There's a difference between me and maybe half the people here, and it's something I rarely and constantly think about. Fishtail braids slice the air as bouncing bodies slide between tables in Moody. Curls frizz up but still look better than pig's curlicue tails on sweltering walks between buildings.There are colorfully dyed locks and strands shorter than pinkie fingers. No one seems to notice as I greedily check my mess of a severe bieber bowl each time I pass a reflective surface, obsessively reestablishing the twisting side part. There's a specific name for the style in which I choose to wear my hair, and it's something that can easily divide a community due to the negative undertones-- I have The Hollins Haircut.

First off, it's important to inform you that the girl who first told me about this formerly unknown style had mermaid-length curls of two different colors.This girl is part of something greater than herself and her own opinions, and I doubt she even knows it.

There's this large, misinformed population both on campus and out in the world that believes in the most sexist, illogical idea and I cringe every time it's brought up, because, well, I'm supporting evidence. I don't think I need to even say it, but I will, just in case there's any confusion.

Hollins is so lovingly nicknamed "the gay school" for its large population of students interested in members of the same sex. That's all fine and dandy - only you wouldn't say the same about a men's college-- except for the secondary supporting evidence -- isn't it enough that half the first years were walking around with hickeys on their necks by the end of the first week? It's less about actual sexual orientation as opposed to perceived. It's easy for people to make assumptions about others based on their actions, but many of these people aren't explicitly gay. Either way, it's nobody's business-- it goes to prove a point.

My whole problem is with people, especially students sharing the campus with me, perpetuating this radical idea that every girl with short hair is a lesbian. Seriously. It's like people expect you to come out and then go get an undercut at the local salon. I guess these people haven't heard of fashion, either-- and don't even get started on how it's just easier to maintain short hair. For a school that preaches acceptance and inclusion, why is it okay for snarky undertones to sneak up and shake me senseless?

Part of choosing to attend a single-sex institution means having an abundant amount of confidence to challenge oneself to learn and grow in a highly competitive environment. It means recognizing the boundaries placed on us as scholars and choosing to do away with them. It's that obnoxious attitude that lets others know you'll continue to do as you please regardless of what they say. Few people are so impressionable and insecure that they'll allow such brash comments to significantly affect them, so who the hell says it's a bad thing to be any of these things?

I've since gotten over this comment, but I'm still annoyed someone thought it was okay to make generalizations about me based on my appearance. Seriously, it's hair. I'm queer, but that's not why I wear my hair short.

I guess I do fit into a certain stereotype, but it's not anything I'm buying into. Hair is hair, and if it's going to be such a big deal, I might as well go all out with the shock and awe.