My name is June, and I’m 25 years old. I was born in the Philippines, but now I call Melbourne, Australia, home. I’m a single parent to the most wonderful 6-year-old girl, who has been the light of my life from the very first day.
I became a mom when I was only 18. Back then, my world turned upside down. I was still in Grade 11 when I found out I was pregnant, and I had to stop studying because my growing belly made it impossible to go unnoticed. I feared being judged and bullied, so I quietly stepped away from school. I was working at the time too, but pregnancy demanded my full attention, and I had to let everything go.
It was one of the hardest moments of my life. I was too young, unprepared, and overwhelmed. My parents, especially my dad, had always had very high expectations for me, and I felt like I had let everyone down. More than anyone else, I even felt like I had let myself down. The weight of disappointment and fear was crushing.
But one day, something small yet powerful changed my perspective. I was scrolling through Facebook when I saw a quote that said, “When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change.” It resonated with me deeply. I realized that I could choose to see my life differently, even in the middle of struggles.
My daughter became my purpose. She gave me a reason to keep going, to keep fighting, to keep moving forward no matter how hard life got. She is the reason I’ve stayed strong, motivated, and hopeful, even through the challenges I’ve faced. And recently, that inner strength became essential once again.
About two months ago, while at work, I went to the bathroom to fix my hair, and I froze in shock. In the mirror, I noticed a small bald patch on the left side of my head, just above my forehead, about the size of a dollar coin. Questions raced through my mind: How did this happen? When did it start? Am I sick?
Later that day, I asked my sister-in-law to check my entire head. She immediately found another, larger patch at the back of my neck. I still remember her reaction — she was shocked and worried, saying, “Oh my God! There’s another one! You should get it checked out immediately!” At first, I thought she was joking, but then she showed me a photo of it. I was speechless. Fear, sadness, and confusion swirled inside me.
A visit to the doctor confirmed what I feared: I had Alopecia Areata.
At that moment, I had no idea what it meant. I later learned that Alopecia Areata is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks hair follicles. There’s no known cure, only treatments to help manage inflammation, often with steroids.
I was scared. Every day, I watched strands of hair fall, and the bald patches seemed to grow. I worried endlessly: What if I lose all my hair? What if I can’t hide it? What if people laugh or judge me? Hair had always been a part of my identity, and the thought of losing it was terrifying.
But slowly, I began to realize that my hair does not define me. Whether I have bald patches or lose all my hair someday, I am still me. I am still beautiful. Imperfections do not make us less; they make us unique. They are part of our story, and they remind us that we are human.
I know I will get through this. Compared to those struggling without enough food, shelter, or support, my challenges feel manageable. I’m grateful for a stable home, the ability to work, and, most importantly, a family and friends who love and support me. The messages of encouragement I received after sharing my diagnosis were overwhelming. Some friends even revealed they were dealing with the same condition but had been too afraid to speak up. That shared vulnerability was incredibly touching.
To anyone else going through this: you are not alone. I see you. I feel you. Remember to take care of your health, surround yourself with positivity, and let go of people who bring negativity into your life.
We are all different. We are all unique. And we are all beautiful, exactly as we are. Being different doesn’t make you any less worthy. Keep fighting, keep moving forward, and above all, be your own kind of beautiful.
