“I actually like to show up with a messy top ponytail and headscarf and go against the ‘neat’ standard because it makes me stand out and I get to prove to people and students that a teacher doesn’t look a certain way or that a scholar doesn’t look a certain way. So I kind of show up how I want to places.”

One day you can hate your hair because a particular style didn’t turn out right and two weeks later you’re back in love with it because of the many compliments you’re getting.