Her alarm clock rings at exactly 7:00 a.m., waking up senior Lashay Green for another day of school. She steps out of her room; a cozy, yet small area where the white brick walls are clad with images of musicians, fashionistas, and symbols expressing Green’s beliefs. Grabbing a slice of frozen cheese pizza from Home-Run-Inn for breakfast, she casually slips on black leggings, a plaid shirt tied around her waist, Doc Martens, and possibly her signature and favorite item, silver chains, and heads for the bus for yet another day in the life of the oh- so- known Lashay Green.
Walking down the halls during a passing period, it’s hard to miss Green. It could be for two prominent reasons: one, for her signature and original style, and two, for her vibrant and vivacious personality. But before Niles West, Green was a little different, and didn’t quite know who she was. That’s when style helped her become the girl she is today, inside and out.
“My family never really had enough money for Hollister, so growing up, that’s where I’d get my clothes. The thought of it was always lame to me, because when I went to school, I would never wear name brands like all the other girls.”
Although Green was trying to fit in with all the other girls in eighth grade by thrifting for typical jeans and t-shirts, she now thrifts for clothes that allow her to express her creativity.
“I just look for stuff with cool patterns, stuff that’s weird. I like old-people clothes,” she said.
Stepping into the world of Niles West changed both her style and personality.
“Realizing that people looked different in a big way, but had a lot in common with me, helped me become my own person and made me want to be friends with diverse groups of people.”
Her new environment and self confidence allowed her to fully express herself through her appearance.
Two years passed, and by the time sophomore year rolled around, Green decided to take a big risk with her appearance, so she shaved half her head.
“I started to care about my appearance, and was tired of wearing things everyone else wore. I didn’t want to look like everyone else,” she said.
Close friend and senior Lois Le reminisces on the years before Green started to transform.
“I’ve been friends with her since before high school. She was always a great person, but really started becoming her own person going into sophomore year. I was with her the first time she shaved her head, and when she got graphics as well, so I’ve been through a lot with her. She’s blossomed into a raw and sick individual.”
After Green shaved her head, she added tattoos and piercings to emphasize her unique physical appearance. Her first tattoo was a cross on the back of her hand, representing her faithful devotion to God. She also has a heart behind her ear, along with five piercings, and she embraces all of them. Green says she feels more confident knowing that her mother supports her with all of her decisions.
“Who else’s parent lets them get tattoos, piercings, shave their head and dress like a fool? She let’s me express myself.”
As Green started to mold into the person she is today, she started expressing her interests and creative sayings in a big way.
When asked how Green has transformed from freshman to senior year, homeroom teacher Tamara Jaffee-Notier couldn’t help but gush.
“Well, I like her hair!” she said with a chuckle. “But, no, Lashay has always been an imaginative and creative person. She’s brought her imagination into the world, but has become more pragmatic in her daily life. She doesn’t let go of her idealism in her daily life.”
Through social media, Green has made the word, “trill” her mantra. The saying started in the earlier years of the hip-hop industry, and its meaning means a lot to Green.
“It means to stay true to yourself, or it could simply mean, ‘you look nice today.’”
Green is also trying to set a trend with the word, “wavy,” meaning someone is attractive, or one dresses in a nice manner.
“It’s like “trill” but ten times better,” she says with a laugh.
Through the hip-hop industry, Green has not only started setting trends with words, but rap music has been therapeutic to her on a personal level.
“I listen to all rap, and the kind I listen to isn’t stereotypical rap; it’s a lifestyle. It’s influential, and helps me maintain my positive mindset and it also helps me through the way I dress, and the vibes I send out.”
Through Green’s transformation, she’s become quite popular on the Facebook scene. Just by making simple statuses such as “I swear people can’t be alone these days. It seems like we convince ourselves we NEED to be in relationships,” expressing her mind is what she does best.
Friend and fellow senior Nicholle Fourkas speaks highly of Green.
“She’s a very interesting person, and super fun. She tells it like it is, but she can get along with anyone.”
