Find A Youth Mentor

My name is Regina, people often call me “Reg” to make it easier. I’m 17 years old and grew up in a small town on the Jersey Shore called Point Pleasant Beach (for those of you who watch MTV’s jersey shore, seaside is around 20 minutes south of my town). I have 5 older siblings, 2 dogs and 2 cats. I enjoy spending time with my friends and siblings, listening to music, and I am a big basketball fan. My favorite sports teams are all from Philadelphia! I am going into my senior year of high school and plan on applying to colleges in the fall of 2018. When I was around 6, I started to lose my hair and eventually all of it fell out. I have had no hair on my scalp since kindergarten. I never have worn a wig or decided to cover up my head because I’ve always wanted to be myself. I hope that I can incorporate my experience with Alopecia and establish reliability with other young people that have alopecia and make their days happier and easier.

Hi everyone, I’m Kayla! I grew up in North Jersey but currently am attending the University of Pittsburgh as a sophomore with a major in Communication Science Disorder. In my free time, I like to explore Pittsburgh (absolutely amazing city), go on hikes, play basketball, or really any type of sport, and am pretty much open to doing anything. I got diagnosed with alopecia summer going into my senior year of high school, when I noticed I had a missing patch on the back of my head at the hairline. As senior year went on I was doing pretty well, another spot popped up but it wasn’t terrible, until about January and alopecia did its magic and poof all my hair fell out in a matter of two weeks. Right in the middle of basketball season too, it was really hard for me to even comprehend what was going on. I was very self-conscious and embarrassed of what was going on, and I think that is because I did not think anyone would understand or even be able to relate/not know what alopecia is. I wore a wig full time, didn’t tell anybody about what was going on except for my two best friends. I tried so many different remedies to get my hair, since different things work for everybody I wanted to try them all. I felt really alone, no matter how much I talked to my therapist or best friends it didn’t help because they don’t have the experience of going through loosing your hair, so it was super difficult. I found ways to cope and learned how to become more comfortable with myself. I struggled with some mental health problems, but I was very lucky to have a really supportive parents and sisters who all helped me go through a lot. I look back on the experience and I know I am a different person today, a better person because of it. I hope to talk to someone who I can relate to and support them through a tough journey. Own alopecia, don’t let it own you!

Hi, my name’s Ashley! I live in Michigan, and I am a senior in high school. I enjoy swimming, playing the flute, baking, and math. My alopecia started when I was fourteen. There were a few bald spots at first, but eventually all my hair fell out. I tried different creams and injections from doctors, but nothing seemed to work. That was when I found so many amazing organizations that provided me with wigs. This allowed me to feel so much more confident. My biggest issue was being on the swim team. I couldn’t wear my wig in the pool, so I closed myself off from my teammates. Next swim season, I decided I was tired of hiding. I told my teammates about my hair loss, and I felt so relieved. I want to be there for others who feel like I did. I hope that people with alopecia will feel less alone.  

Hello! My name is Harrison Goldberg, I was born and currently live in the New York Metropolitan Area. I was diagnosed with Alopecia Areata Universalis when I was 6 years old. I lost all of the hair on my head within three weeks - and the rest of it within three months. In the beginning, it was very hard for me to make friends and I was made fun of in school for being “different” than everyone else. That same year, I attended my first NAAF conference in Houston, Texas. Ever since then, my journey through Alopecia hasn’t been exactly smooth. But what I can say, is that Alopecia has gifted me with great advice, greater memories, and most of all life-long friendships. Currently, I am a junior in High School and I plan on applying to colleges next fall. I love to talk about anything whether it be sports, T.V, news, or just anything in general. In the beginning I, like any other person, struggled greatly through Alopecia. However, if there’s one thing I’ve learned from having Alopecia is to constantly persevere - the storm always comes to pass! It’s always been a dream of mine to help out kids who went through the same struggle I went through nearly ten years ago; to see those thoughts come to reality is more than a dream come true. I would be more than happy to share my experiences regarding Alopecia or just talk in general. Thank you for your time!

Hi, my name is Ali Cavanaugh and I am no stranger to autoimmune disorders. At the age of 13 months old I was diagnosed with diabetes, at the age of 6 I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis, at the age of 8 I was diagnosed with autoimmune hives, at the age of 13 I was diagnosed with Vitiligo, and finally at the age of 25 I was diagnosed with Alopecia. I wont lie, being diagnosed with Alopecia was probably one of the hardest things to hear…and I have heard a lot of things. To know that there is nothing that I can do to keep my hair from falling out was devastating. But, instead of crumbling into pieces I picked myself up and embraced being bald. I grabbed a pair of razors and shaved what remained off. I found a great wig place in my area, Wigs R You, and have so many different wigs that I can be a different person every day of the week. When I get tired of wigs or head scarfs I just take it all off and enjoy the freedom. Alopecia has not hindered my life in any way…I won’t let it. I still play sports, go to work, ride horses, got married, and so much more. I would love to use my experience dealing with Alopecia Universalis to help you accept who you are and discover that you are more than just hair.

Hi! I’m Aubri! I’m 27 years old from Spokane Washington! I love to create! My favorite things to create range from fun videos, art, photography, cooking to more! I also love playing games of all kinds- board games, card games and video games. I’m a huge Nintendo fan! Learning languages is a passion of mine and watching foreign movies. Best believe I will never turn down a karaoke party. I love all types of music, including main stream, indie, Latin and K-pop. I studied piano for nine years and sang in choir for 7! I have twin toddlers and we love going on adventures. I was first diagnosed with alopecia when I was 6 years old, and lost all of my hair in 1st grade. I don't wear wigs or hats. I just go bald and embrace my shiny head wherever I go!

Hey, I'm Ezra. I'm a high school senior in Houston, Texas. I enjoy playing musical instruments (guitar, saxophone, and piano), soccer, watching football (Fly Eagles Fly), and playing video games. I was diagnosed with Alopecia Universalis at 11 years old, and lost all the hair on my head, eyebrows, and arms/legs in the weeks after my diagnosis. As a mentor, I hope to spend quality time with mentees and impart any tips or advice I've learned throughout my Alopecia journey while having some fun!

Hello, I’m Ben Israel and I am from the suburbs of Detroit. I lost my hair when I was 7 years old and have been pretty much bald ever since. I have a passion for all sports, especially ice hockey. I played NCAA D1 Ice Hockey for 4 years at Colorado College. I am also very interested in business and investing. Having alopecia was difficult at times, especially during middle school and high school, but it has made me so much stronger. I am extremely excited to meet people who have alopecia as well and help them realize the strength that they can gain from it too. I would love the opportunity to share my experiences with alopecia as well as support children and families through theirs.

Hello! My name is Grace Duhs. I am 17 years old. I live in sunny San Diego California. My mom discovered my Alopecia Areata when she was routinely brushing my hair and found a bald spot the size of a quarter. I started just losing my hair until I was completely bald. I now have Alopecia Universalis but I'm still living a positive life! My favorite hobby is acting in my school plays for the past six years! I was recently in the play Lion King and I was the comedic character Timon! I also love baking, doing track and field, soccer, and hanging out with my friends. I have 2 fluffy dogs named Toby and Hana and they are the best dogs. I want to help support kids who have Alopecia and be a friend to anyone who needs it. I want to help them gain confidence and show them they are made beautifully inside and out. My favorite quote from my Alopecia experience is, “Why fit in when you are born to stand out.”

Hello! My name is Mary Wills. I was diagnosed with patchy alopecia in 1994 and universalis in 2011. I am currently a mental health therapist and licensed social worker. I completed my undergraduate degree at the University of Mount Union, graduate degree at Case Western Reserve University, and studied abroad in northern India. I have experience in diverse social work settings, treating the psychological needs of patients with chronic health conditions. I'm currently married and I've traveled to all fifty states. I enjoy sewing, crafts and spending time with my cats. I'm excited to meet a mentee to provide emotional support through his or her alopecia journey.