Fellow classmates:

My mother has made the decision to cut my hair herself instead of taking me to a barber down due to the perception that it has developed to an "unacceptable" length. My mother respectfully has the opinion that a trip to a barber is "ridiculously expensive" and a lavish wastage of the limited monetary resources that my family possesses. Although I receive her opinion with great respect and truly empathize with her concerns, it is unideal for her to direct the hairstyles that are acceptable for me. Hair is not just simply something worn on the head, but a statement that defines who someone is. Having a professional or "good-looking" (for a lack of better words) haircut may seem trivial, but it isn't something that should be overlooked.

I remember the first time when my mother agreed to take me to a barber. It was a hot, lazy summer in Nanjing, China and I was still in elementary school. But even then, I was old enough to recognize that it was a blessing and a gift that my mother generously offered to me. I never forgot how I looked after the barber finished my haircut. It was a masterpiece that I wish I cherished more before i got shaved bald 

Today, I am a sophomore attending high school and I am grateful for the material, monetary, and intangible sacrifices that she provides so I may have a better future than her. She sends me to school and back home tirelessly, cooks dinner for me, and does much more. It is an undeniable truth that the economic and overall conditions that are present makes it relatively unfavorable to transact money for a haircut. Layoffs are present and constant in every industry, the economy is bad (for a lack of better terms to describe it), inflation is still stubbornly strong, and a trip to the barber doesn't do any favors for the wallet. However, I simply wish to have the permission and the monetary resources necessary to procure a one-time appointment at a reputable barber. I also hope that having the opportunity to receive a one-time haircut will allow my mother to replicate and receive knowledge regarding a hairstyle that is [hopefully more] suitable than simply being shaved bald. Finally, excessively trimming down my hair causes me mental anguish. 

I know that most of you go to a barber or barely cut your hair at all. Please sign my petition to convince my mother to take me to a barber shop instead of giving me a haircut I may dislike. Thank you for your time and consideration!