I was planning on writing about the third common app essay topic (Reflect on a time when you challenged a belief or idea. What prompted you to act? Would you make the same decision again?). I would focus on my transition from straight/flat ironed hair to my natural curly hair and how I challenged the beliefs my community (98% white) and the media hold about natural African American hair. Is that too obscure?? My plan B is writing about the influence my Ethiopian heritage had on me.
That sounds very unique.
I like your original idea! Go for it. Colleges like it when you pick something small and relate it to something more significant. Just be careful to avoid cliches in your writing.
Believe it or not, there are essays about hair and identity. One is a pretty strong example that CC and/or other web pages made into a classic. So, you need to be careful yours hits the right mark. Maybe adding in your heritage and the meaning of hair expressions in your culture makes this more “you.”
Go for it girl! I like that topic, but being Habesha myself I can’t say no to plan B either. Anyways I like the first one because it will stand out and colleges like things that are outside of the box. I say tie the two together, especially if you’ve had the experience of sitting on that floor for hours having your mom/grandma braid half your hair into a billion tiny tight stiff braids compared to straightening it.