How do you pronounce your name - Essay Example

How do you pronounce your name? How do you pronounce your name? I knew this question would be asked before the person could begin to speak their mispronunciation of my name. Besides that question, the second question that I have become accustomed to being asked is where did I get my name from. A name is an identity, but when your name is as unique as mine, it becomes more of a topic or a conversation starter rather than just a name. On July 21st, my mother Lisa Brown gave birth to a beautiful baby girl, and she named her Heavyn’le Janet Ceasar. Her name, along with plenty of other incidents, made her the person she is today. When I was younger, though, I never knew the kind of impact my name would have on me. In elementary school, I was not very fond of my name. I always complained to myself how one day I would change it to Heavyn. It would be easier for people to pronounce, and I would be free of hearing that overused question on a daily basis. As I grew older and matured, the views I had on my name changed drastically. I began to like the uniqueness of my name, and whenever the pause came to read my name, I was more than happy to correct the pronunciation. As I grew older and I began to fully understand why my mother would give me this name, I realized that what I had was more than just I name. I had a story to go with it. Born two months early and weighing only two pounds, it was more than a blessing for me to be alive, especially when the doctor was sure that either my mom or I was going to die during the birth. My mom, happy that we both survived, decided to name me Heavyn’le. Given the miracle that occurred the day of my birth, nothing else seemed to fit. My mom also said, “My name is so common, and I just wish that someone would have spelled my name a little different.” Therefore, to add to the uniqueness of my name, she had to add some spice to it, to make it “different.” Not only is my name unique, but it has a story behind it that has finally made me proud to bear the name that my mother blessed me with. Now that I am older, I have come to realize that my name helped make me who I am. I am able to understand why I was named Heavyn’le, and that it had not been picked on a whim but for a reason - life. I am not afraid to be different. I am constantly being told how pretty my name is, and I have even been asked if my name could be used in a short story. Although having a unique name can have its bad sides, it definitely has more ups than it has downs. Sometimes a name is more than just a word. Who has had the greatest impact on my life? My cousin had not always been a bad child, but with her father dead and her mother giving her up so early in her life, she did not know how to properly express herself. With nobody to really look up to, she ended up relying on herself and the negative influences of the people she surrounded herself with. My cousin Starnisha Simmons has had the greatest impact on my life because she showed me how important education was, how to forgive and forget, and how all actions have consequences. Starnisha’s dad is my mother’s brother. She is my first cousin, so growing up we were always together. The only difference was that she went to school in a “bad neighborhood” and I went to school in a “good neighborhood.” The atmosphere she was surrounded by is what I believe made her the way she is now; too much negative influence, but not enough good influences. At an early age, she began gang banging, ditching school, and heading in the wrong direction. If she would have been around a more positive atmosphere, maybe things would have turned out differently. Star has been in jail multiple times. The last time she went affected me the worst. She was selfish that day, and she did not think about how her immature decisions would effect those around her. She injured my grandparents and was taken to jail and charged as an adult at the young age of sixteen. When I found out about the incident, I was furious. I ignored her letters, and would not let myself be in contact with her. For about four years, I kept myself cut off from her. After a lot of persuasion, I went and visited her. When I saw her, I immediately broke down. The visit and talk we had made me realize that she was truly sorry for what she had done, and it was at that point that I learned how to forgive and forget. My cousin also made me realize that all actions have consequences. My cousin had always been good about getting away with things. She stole, and not just candy, but cars, and she ditched school, and much more. However, my family was always there to bail her out of trouble. Being around these actions, I began to think that there was always an easy way out. When Starnisha went to jail, reality set in and I realized how life really works. You are in control of your own life, and the results of your decisions are in your own hands. Now as I go and visit her, I am opinionated about her being in jail. If she had never been caught, she might have ended up with a longer sentence, or dead. Although I am sad that she will not see me graduate, when she gets out of jail, I hope that she will be motivated to do better and to get her life back together. Everything happens for a reason. Read More