There's No Shame In Being Young.

- I'm concerned about your looks. I hope it works, but you... you just look so young.

That was the way in which my employer kind of closed the deal. She was not hiring me for any ad campaign or anything in which my age or looks should matter. I was being trusted with the instruction of 5 English groups at a language academy: I had the degree, I had side experience, but I was still a little too young.

Next day, I showed up at work for my first class, and right immediately I felt the killer gaze of my boss, the principal of the school. I rushed to my classroom, but the lady is fast and intercepted me before I could get away with my new infraction, whatever it was. She came to me with her patronizing tone and familiar proximity. I knew I was in trouble.
- The way you do your hair is pretty much as the young people in this institute do it. You should comb it down.
- Oh - I exclaimed shocked - but I'm pretty much their age, they know it anyway.
-Yes, but you should avoid at all costs letting them think that you're one of them.
- Oh, I WOULD let them KNOW I'm the teacher. You should not worry about it.
- It is a good idea if you cut your hair.
- Oh, but I...
- I insist. It IS a good idea.
Wait a second! Is being a young person a sort of infraction now? I went to my classroom and performed my activities as expected, but for some reason I was not so eager to come to work again on Friday. It had been a long time since my age or the fact that I look and dressed youthful was an issue.

Right, I have been living in a rational world in which any argument has a logical counterargument and in which talent was praised regardless of the appearance. It was not until I came to this job that I regained some perspective of reality and discovered that there are still plenty of old-fashioned, old-schooled people for whom keeping appearances is as important as the real deal.

I ended up cutting my hair a little, but I couldn't help feeling defeated. To strike back, I wore converse next class. The principal sat me down in her office and gave me the old speech she has given to all the professors - she even took pride on that fact. "Now you, as the other professors, are wearing your hair like a man." I listened respectfully, poker face activated, waiting for my turn to speak and bring down some of the ridiculous prejudices. "There's no shame in being young" I said. "My hair is going to grow again, and I don't want to look old. I know many talented people my age that look even a little bit eccentric. I hope in time you will see that decorum has little to do with a fixed appearance that society established long time ago and that respect is earned, not imposed."

I'm doing my best to prove this point. Wish me luck.
Spread some justified rebelliousness.