In my photo, I chose to wear a colorful sweater and light blouse. Around my neck is a dream catcher, my hair is down, and I have no makeup on. The colorful clothing represents my wish to become more “colorful” or show my “true colors”. The dream catcher symbolizes me catching dreams and not giving up on them easily. Usually, I wear my hair up or pulled back, but when someone’s hair is down, it shows they are relaxed and I have never been too comfortable with my frizzy, curly head. “When it (Griet's hair) was uncovered it seemed to belong to another Griet” (Chevalier 122). I’m not implying I’m a completely different person when my hair is down, but rather more comfortable and secure. Wearing makeup can mean that people want to change their outer self, subconsciously transferring to the desire to change their inner self. I do not want to worry about showing my untouched face.
In order to achieve this identity, I will wear my hair down more often. I could try different ways of pulling it back instead of just a ponytail. I can go days with no makeup. I will wear bright, colorful clothes to coax myself out of hiding in a corner, since the damsel in distress wouldn’t wear a big neon sign reading, “Neon Lights” when hiding from Dracula. I will speak to new people and try to find others with similar interests as me. I will focus on the long-term when I’m bored or frustrated with learning something new, since obtaining that basic knowledge will allow me to come closer to my dreams.
Griet let her hair show and, once done, she was braver and allowed her inner strength to take over her shyness sometimes. “Now that he had seen my hair, now that he had seen me revealed, I no longer felt I had something precious to hide and keep to myself. I could be freer” (Chevalier 196). Griet was able to let go of her insecurities once she let her hair down. When my hair is loose and not tied up or pulled back, I feel confident. Griet also never wore makeup. Few people, if any, wore makeup in that time period. If they could forget about eyeliner then I certainly can as well.
