Upon entering my sophomore year of high school, I had a hopeful vision for how that particular year would play out.

I knew it was the year I would finally, blissfully, manage to snag a boyfriend. I pictured myself walking the halls with him, laughing at something he said and tossing my perfect soft curls, my blue pastel pea coat appropriately fending off the fall chill.

First of all, I did not have soft, curly hair. I had thick, coarse hair that I can only also describe as lumpy. And I certainly did not own a blue pea coat. In fact, even if I had owned such a coat, I probably would have been too shy to wear it for fear of looking like I was trying to hard and instead settle for my usual American Eagle sweatshirt.