TOWAMENCIN – Scott Swindells is a man of truth and honesty, always telling his students to be proud of their work and live life with a passion each and every day. The beloved teacher, who teaches tenth grade English and creative writing, is an advisor for the Ski and Snowboard club, and the Virtual High School site coordinator, has been keeping something to himself for the past few years, living in shame and insecurity. It was not until a few days ago that he decided to come forward with the truth and hopefully be an example for his student.

A second period creative writing class got the shock of a lifetime on Tuesday morning, when Mr. Swindells called their attention as the bell rang to start the period. Fumbling with his words as he clasped his hands tight, Swindells slowly reached up to the ponytail that has made him a recognizable figure to student at North Penn. He slowly pulled at the ponytail, and a gasp echoed through the classroom. Some students averted their gaze, some covered their eyes, and some burst out laughing, for before them stood Swindells with his long locks on the floor.

His head shining under the fluorescent lighting, Swindells finally admitted his deepest and darkest secret to the world: he wears a wig. He began to tell the tale of when he started to go bald a few years ago, and how he became very insecure about the slowly expanding circle on the top of his head.

“I can remember that day when I reached up to shampoo my hair, looked down at my hands, and saw the first few black strands slowly wash off my palms,” said Swindells, his voice quivering with emotion. “Over the next few weeks, the follicles started to come down in bunches…and so did the tears…”

Swindells admitted that he first started with a toupee but, after having long hair for a large portion of his life, started to receive questions about why he cut his hair so short. In order to maintain his mirage, he scoured the internet until he found the longest wig available for men. He arrived back after summer vacation that year with the new long wig, telling his coworkers that he had decided to grow out his hair while school was not in session.

Being in a band, snowboarding in the winter, and being a creative writing teacher, Swindells soon realized that the long hair really fit his image. He became known as an awesome teacher, not just a cool person but a great educator. As his relationship with the students that came through his class grew, Swindells began to put off making his baldness known.

“I planned to announce it within a year,” said Swindells. “But the hair just kind of stuck, and I became more and more reluctant to tell people.”

It was not until recently that Swindells decided to tell the world about his baldness. After watching Beauty and the Beast with his daughter, Swindells started to think of how people would treat him if they knew how he really looked.

“The movie really got to me, roundhouse kicked me right in the heart,” said Swindells. “I just knew that I had a responsibility to myself to show the world what I really look like. And even if I did that, they would still love me anyway.”

As he stood with his heart wide open and his hair in his hands, Swindells became choked up, his eyes tearing up as he stood in front of his students. The class then began to clap for Swindells, rising to give him a standing ovation. A couple of students stepped forward and began to hug Swindells, and the entire class ended up giving their teacher a group hug of support.

Some of his students have come up and thanked him, telling him that he has become a role model for them and has given them the strength to be comfortable in his own body. While he is still currently wearing the wig when he goes outside of class, Swindells is planning to drop the look entirely in the coming weeks. The story has started to gain traction amongst the community by word of mouth, even reaching the attention of national figures. Swindells has even scheduled appearances on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and The Late Show with David Letterman.

“It’s great that what I have done has given so many people strength to be themselves, but I’m truly just happy for all of the support everyone has given me,” said Swindells. “Without the wonderful people in this school, I would never be able to show who I truly am. Thank you all, and never be afraid to just be you.”