Teens express spirit of love with haircuts
Published: May 20, 2006
In the Bible, Samson loses his strength when he cuts off his hair. But at Warner Robins High School, five young people who cut off their hair didn’t lose their power - they used their hair to empower others.
Brianne Kerr, a ninth grader, Malorie Sponseller, a junior, and seniors Amelia Torres and Amanda Minter sat in the school’s lunchroom Tuesday and had 10 inches of their hair cut off for Locks of Love, an organization that provides wigs for children.
Even a young male student, Ronald Trawick, bowed to the shears. And Jamie Wall and Dana Daniel, who hadn’t originally signed up, got into the spirit of things and donated their hair to the cause.
Donors, like these WRHS students, provide the raw material, which is hand-assembled and custom-fit into wigs for patients under 18 who suffer from medical hair loss, such as the after-effects of chemotherapy.
Amanda and Amelia grew their hair out specifically for this purpose and encouraged other students to join them.
“I really decided to do it last year, after Mrs. Collier (a teacher at the school) cut her hair,” said Amanda, whose Aunt Nicole, a breast cancer survivor, cut her niece’s locks Tuesday.
Malorie, who had the longest hair of the crowd - and therefore the most to lose - said she has always been protective of her long, curly hair.
“But then I got to thinking. My stepfather’s mother passed away from cancer. What if she passed along something to my stepfather who passed it on to my half-sister? How could I help them? What could I do? Everyone always talks about my long hair, how pretty it is. I realized that by cutting it off at least I could help their confidence,” Malorie said.
Brianne was also influenced by a family member. Her mom has had her own hair cut for Locks of Love.
“Our hair is going to grow back. Theirs won’t for a long time,” said Amelia.
“And maybe never the same again,” Amanda chimed in, explaining that her aunt, who was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 20, lost all her hair during chemotherapy and when it grew back, it was not the same texture or color.
“It was like it has been depleted of vitamins because of the radiation,” Amanda said.
“Aunt Nicole never relapsed so she is now finally considered cancer free,” added Amanda. “She is 32 now and her life is normal and she can start over.”
Tuesday’s hair-cutting event resembled a giant pep rally, as several classes came to the lunchroom to watch Locks of Love, which Amelia and Amanda hope will encourage more to join the effort next year.
Randi Collier, a science teacher at Warner Robins High, started the Locks of Love tradition at the school, cutting her own hair last year as a tribute to Joanna McAfee, a preschooler who at the time was battling cancer and whose mother had taught with Collier.
The Miss Warner Robins High School pageant in January was dedicated to Joanna, who passed away in December. Amelia, who won the title, was inspired to do something else in the little girl’s name.
“I thought of trying to get more people involved with Locks of Love. I was in the office one day and Mrs. Collier started bowing to me because I had been crowned Miss WRHS. I said, no, I should bow to you because you are my inspiration for cutting my hair,” Amelia recalled.
“That is the one thing that makes it hard this year,” said Collier. “Last year it was in honor of Joanna; this year it is in memory of her.”
All of the girls said they would grow their hair back out and have it recut for Locks of Love. But while that process might take a year or two, they all hoped that next year’s event Locks of Love event at WRHS would grow so much that it would have to be held in the stadium.
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