I remember the first time my hair fell out.

I was in my college dorm room about to go to bed when I noticed a pile of hair on my floor after I brushed my hair. My doctor didn't even look at my head for more than 15 seconds because he knew immediately that I had alopecia.

Alopecia is an autoimmune disease that causes your immune system to attack your hair follicles. There is no cure, and the treatment is a kind of pain I will never be able to put into words. I have an extremely high pain tolerance, but the shots to make my hair grow back are impossible to sit through.

Recently, my hair started to fall out in extremely noticeable places on my head, and the shots just weren't working anymore. I decided that I've had enough. Enough pain, enough frustration, enough bald spots, enough vitamins, and enough shots - and I shaved my head.

Going into it, I was so scared - horrified would be a better word. I didn't know what people would say or think, and I wasn't sure I would be able to feel confident again.

I had one of my closest friends actually shave my head, while two of my other friends sat there the whole time and made me laugh throughout the entire process. I won't lie and say I didn't cry after it was over and done with, but my sad tears for my hair soon turned into happy tears over the love everyone surrounded me with.

The support I received from my sorority, friends, family, and people I didn't even know, was overwhelming to say the least. Everyone has been constantly reminding me that I am still beautiful, and yes that makes me feel good, but honestly it might be a while before I am comfortable with how I look - and that's okay.

I know I am beautiful because I was made in the image of God Himself - that alone is enough to get me through all of this.

I am reminded that things could be much worse, and I am thankful that they aren't.

Losing my hair was a blessing. It's taught me to find beauty in things other than my outward appearance, and it's taught me to find beauty in every single person I meet. I know that I could not have made it through this without the amazing support system I have, and for that I am eternally grateful.

I would love to have beautiful, long, thick hair - but if you ask me, I think my little bald head is pretty cute too.