I started growing out (from a buzz cut) this past October 2001, I would really like to be able to tie my hair back by my 18th b-day which is next April (the 28th if it really matters) 2003, you think i'll reach my goal in time? I really really want to be able to tie it by graduation which is about a month and a half after that.
Do you have a pic to post? Interested to see how far you are?
Sorry no pic (no scanner, no digital camera i'm poor lol) I do have my driver liscence pic uploaded on my comp. from a school project but since I had my hair tucked behind my ears you can't really tell the lenght. (and I don't know how to post it anyways) But hopefully by the time I reach a year I will be able to post a pic somehow.
You still have most of a year to go. Unless your hair grows very slowly, you should reach your goal without too much trouble. Don't trim it and be patient, and good luck.
I started growing mine out from pretty short haircut at June, 2001 (will celebrate 1 year after 2 weeks :) I started wearing my hair in tail after about 10 months of growing (about 23 cm now and growing at about 18 cm per year). Of course not all of my hair fits in tail yet but it looks pretty good anyway. What this means is that you should be able to put your hair in tail by the next April without any doubts!