Comment by Julia S on August 24, 2010 at 5:14pm

Lauren if you truely want to be a nurse I think you can find it in yourself to break down the wall and tell people. Just remember that everyone here is supporting you 100%, we love you just the way you are.

Comment by Kimberly Duncan on August 24, 2010 at 5:54pm

I think its great you are going to school. Most people will be mature and accept you and you having to wear wigs. Anyone that can not accept it then do not worry about them and concentrate on what is important to you and that is getting your education. Explaining will be easier then you think. Just keep in mind why you are there for and do not allow the ignorance or rudeness of others to dictate what you do in life.

Comment by Karen Smith on August 24, 2010 at 6:10pm

It won't be as bad as you think. People in nursing school will be interested and curious about your condition. My daughter was a cheerleader in highschool when alopecia happened to her. She told the people she needed to and they kept her secret for her. Just let the instructor know, I am sure it will be ok. Please don't let alopecia keep you from doing anything that you want to.

Comment by Carol on August 24, 2010 at 10:24pm

Getting this off your chest may be just what the doctor prescribed! Although I didn't go to school for anything medical, I didn't find the maturity level of the other students to be much better than those of the high school crowd but I imagine, like Karen mentioned, that your peers would be very interested to know about the condition and it's awesome that you have the opportunity to promote this rare disease with people in the medical community. There may be one or two smartie pants in the crowd, there always is but you can't remain totally secret about this either. I know several nurses and none of them would ever be able to do their job while wearing a wig if they didn't want someone to know about it. Nurses get into tough spots sometimes with patients who get physical. There will always be a chance that a patient could rip or knock it off. Don't let alopecia stop you from doing what you want to do though, you could very well lose a wig in other situations as well (like a wind storm) and if you think about it that way you'll never leave the house. I realize everyone has their own time frame for acceptance and I'm not sure how new alopecia is to you but coming out of the wig closet is the best thing you can do for yourself. I'm not saying give up the wigs or anything but to be free to admit that you wear one and not care what others think about it. It's much easier to go about your daily living without the worries attached to hiding and lying or even wondering who your real friends are. I'm not trying to be negative, I'm just blatantly honest and whatever you chose to do we are all here to support each other. Good Luck!! :)

Comment by Tallgirl on August 24, 2010 at 10:55pm

Being able to pay for your own life via a great career...and being in the field you enjoy...is tops! Go for those, and hopefully someday the very people you tell will be the first to call you when a cure is found, or when any innovations occur. You are actually in the BEST career for this: tons of advice, support, understanding, access to good doctors.

Comment by Sandi Walmsley on August 24, 2010 at 11:17pm

It doesn't matter what other people think. Being truthful is the best way to go about it. You don't want to live your life wondering, what if. If the others have a problem with you having no hair, then they shouldn't be working with others...especially in the nursing field. Alopecia is a part of you, and will continue to be, you shouldn't have to change your dreams because of it. Embrace it. I said in my blog earlier today that hair is just one of life's accessories. I hope you don't mind my frankness...good luck :)

Comment by Kristen Ridenhour on August 24, 2010 at 11:18pm

Don't let alopecia stop you from doing what you want to do. If you are not ready to tell your whole nursing class about your alopecia I would suggest just telling your professors when necessary. They should be understanding about your situation. From my experiences, most people are more curious than anything else. Once they understand what alopecia is, they really don't mention it again and it doesn't bother them. In my 4 years at college, I think there have been all of 2 people who didn't really accept my alopecia. Be true to who you are and go after your dreams!

Comment by Tallgirl on August 24, 2010 at 11:42pm

If this was a medical TV drama show, part of your training and test WOULD BE to see if any of you can (1) reveal and (2) accept medical conditions of each other. Why not become part of the challenge? Your alopecia may be the very thing that makes you all better in your bedside manner.

Comment by Alliegator on August 25, 2010 at 9:39am

Thats wonderful you are going to nursing school! Tell them the truth. :) It may be difficult to do, but you will feel better about it after you do so. Like Kristen said... most people are more curious and the majority of people will accept it. I would say to maybe tell any professors first, then if necessary or when comfortable, tell the students. You never know... there might be another student with alopecia! I have found the more I talk about it, the better I feel. Good luck!

Comment by Susan P aka DGADBS on August 26, 2010 at 7:33am

It all starts with you Lauren, if your comfortable with it they will be too. And I think nursing school students would be more accepting than say for instance hairdressing school students! You will get a lot of questions but sometimes that helps to open things up and everyone will feel more comfortable about it, and the rest of them? who cares what they think.

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