14-year-old gives back, donates portion of hair to Locks of Love

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Anne Gathua
GOODFELLOW AFB, Texas --  May 7 was a day the Medina family will never forget. Seated at the BX salon beaming with excitement and pride, they eagerly watched Rae Park, a hair dresser, cut off a portion of their daughter's hair.

Amanda Taylor Medina, a 14-year-old, donated 10 inches of her hair to Locks of Love, a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children. Children in the United States and Canada, under the age of 18 and suffering from long-term illnesses are eligible recipients. Locks of Love uses donated hair to create high-quality hair prosthetics.

The prosthetics they provide help to restore the children's self-esteem and confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers. Their mission is to return a sense of self, normalcy and confidence to children suffering from hair loss by utilizing donated ponytails to provide the highest quality hair prosthetics to these children.

Amanda, a freshman at Central High School freshman campus, learned about the organization from a conversation she overheard.

"I heard someone talking about Locks of Love and it sparked an interest in me," said Amanda. "I researched about it and that's how I found out what they do."

After doing her research, Amanda decided to donate her hair to help the organization's cause. "When Amanda read about Locks of Love and what they do, she cried because it dawned on her that what she was thinking of doing would change a child's life forever," said Wendy Medina, Amanda's mom.

Amanda said it touched her when she found out there were children out there that did not have hair because of something they had no control over.

"I realized I had the ability to change someone's life just by giving part of my hair," she said. "It feels really good knowing that I will help someone get through a really tough time."

Amanda is also a member of Family, Career and Community Leaders of America, a national student organization that helps young men and women become leaders and address important personal, family, work and societal issues through family and consumer sciences education.

"Amanda is a 312th Training Squadron fire school kid," said Albert Medina, Amanda's dad. "Growing up around the Air Force has positively impacted Amanda's leadership characteristics and compassion to help others," said Mr. Medina.

"Starting at around four years, Amanda began saluting the base flag whenever we would drive on or past the base. Respect for the flag motivated her to enter and win a national poster contest titled, 'What the U.S. Flag Means to Me.' Ever since she won that contest she's always been interested in helping others through different avenues of involvement such as, Girls Scouts of America, altar serving at Sacred Heart Church, Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon, Shoe Boxes of Support for the 9/11 emergency responders and multiple school programs aimed at assisting peers and other classmates through mentorship."

Mrs. Medina said many kids think only about themselves and Amanda has been a positive example by putting others before her.

"I think what she's done is awesome," said Mrs. Medina. "I would like to encourage parents to support their children's dreams and to teach them to be selfless."

Mr. Medina said Amanda was a fine example for base community kids.

"This is something that came from the heart," said Mr. Medina. "She's always been very compassionate to the needs of others and this is one way she felt she could give back. It makes me very proud of her. She has a strong will to succeed while helping others succeed as well. As an entire family we are very proud of Amanda."

Amanda wants to be a veterinarian and plans to volunteer at the animal shelter this summer.

"I just want the children to know there's someone out there who cares enough to help and to encourage others to do it," said Amanda.

"Instead of throwing away your hair once you cut it, change a child's life by donating it to Locks of Love. Being part of the Air Force and a member of FCCLA has made me realize how important it is to help people."