This is a submission for a local 'do a good deed contest.' My entire English class had to do this and around 5 or 10 got submitted into the contest. The teacher said that one from our class was in the running for the prize (a new computer) but the person was beat out by a last minute submission. He didn't say whose essay it was, but the way he talked, everyone sort of figured out that it was mine. By the way, I got an A+ on it. ;-)

A Cut Above

Sometimes, good deeds are things that reach beyond the home and outside of family and friends. A true good deed touches the lives of people you don't even know. And the reward for performing such a deed is nothing except satisfaction in knowing that you have helped someone. This kind of satisfaction is the kind that grows inside of you until you have done all you physically can to help someone. This kind of satisfaction brings happiness that starts within your own heart and spreads to everyone around you. This kind of happiness could change lives.

A good deed starts with an idea. Sometimes, the inspiration behind that idea comes from the television; sometimes, it comes from another source. In my case, it came from the newspaper. I was reading an article about girls who had donated their hair to children who have lost their hair due to alopecia or other medical conditions. While reading, I wondered, 'Why couldn't I do that?' Then I thought, 'I can.' After that, I assumed that others might like to do the same. So I circulated flyers around various schools inviting anyone interested to come and help.

The day came, and we met at the salon. Two other girls, ages 11 and 17, had also decided to donate hair. A woman donated hair that she had cut from her recently deceased sister. One of the stylists left to retrieve hair that her mother had been saving for 28 years. Each person saw the goodness that this simple deed could bring, and acted on it.

Already, nearly seven months have passed since I gave away eleven inches of my hair. In such a short time, about five inches have grown back. It is only a matter of time before I am eligible to donate my hair again. And that is exactly what I plan to do. As soon as I have ten inches, I plan to meet again at that salon with a smile on my face and a braid of hair in my hand. I have truly found "the gift that keeps on giving."

I actually did this for community service in my freshman year. I'm doing it again next year when I'm a senior. If you're interested, the website for Locks of Love is . If you live in Northeast Philadelphia, e-mail me and you can come and donate hair (minimum 10 inches) with the rest of the group. The more the merrier.