Yes I'm named after the Little Mermaid

by Ariel

I'm a 20-year-old college student and my name is Ariel. Growing up I absolutely hated my hair. Kids are mean and find any little flaw they can on a person in order to tease them. So having red hair, skin that is horribly white (or red depending on if I was in the sun for 2 seconds), and the fact that I was named after a cartoon made it pretty easy to get picked on.

However now that I'm older I realized I wouldn't change it for the world. I've come to realize that I love being different and the smile people get when they connect my name and my hair together. I hope everybody feels pride in what makes them different like I do with my "flaw."