I’ve written about my name several times over the years…while in college for the student paper I was an editor and as a young reporter working on my first newspaper job (Herald Democrat) in Texas. Since my newsletter is about my journey as a Latina investigative journalist and everything I’ve encountered and overcome over the years…it was time to touch on this silly subject. LOL! Good stuff Pablo!!!! Love that name by the way.
I read your piece. I really liked it!! I also subscribed to your Substack. By the way, your piece inspired me to change the last paragraph of my piece. After reading your piece, the ending of mine felt abrasive. I like the new ending better, so thank you!
As one might guess, my name in all-white Midwest burbs was a tough one. South Indian names are long, and I wanted to change it. And I was YamOOOna throughout school (it is actually YUH-mu-nuh). When I went to my reunion though, people were actually apologetic that they had mispronounced it all along, although it was party my fault because I went along with what was easier for them. But now I'm glad to have stuck with my name, even though it exceeds the character count on Substack notes...
I'm glad I did too, and I'm glad you did too! Regarding your reunion, I had a similar experience last year. I posted another piece about my name on one of my socials, and I got a DM from a guy I went to high school with. He apologized profusely about having made fun of my name. Funny thing is, I didn't even remember him as one of the culprits. Honestly, I'm not even sure I can remember any of them individually. But I appreciated the apology.
Thanks for sharing your experience with your name, Pablo! It’s so interesting how one’s name affects how we see ourselves and one another.
And it’s wild how casually cruel and racist people can be; hopefully, most grow out of it after high school, although I guess that’s wishful thinking given the world we live in.
If you don’t mind my saying, having read a number of your pieces, I do think your name suits you!
Thanks for reading and for sharing your thoughts. Some do grow out of it. I mentioned in another comment that after sharing a similar piece about my name that I shared on my socials about a year ago, a guy I knew in high school reached out to tell me how sorry he was. He seemed pretty bothered by it. I appreciated the apology. People can grow.
Regarding my name, there were long stretches of my life when I didn't like it. It took me a while, but I came around to it. And now, during this climate, my name feels like an affirmation.
That’s awesome that he gave a heartfelt apology and very true, people can grow!
It reminds of this girl/group of girls who bullied a friend of mine in middle and high school for being gay. At the end of our senior year we had this retreat— I went to an all girls school with a brother school, perhaps similar to what you described— and the girl who bullied her the most apologized to her and seemed to genuinely feel bad, which my friend appreciated.
I’m glad your name feels like an affirmation to you!
Speaking of names. I wrote a piece here recently about my name. As a child, I had plans to change it as soon as I was an adult. https://open.substack.com/pub/mcnellytorres/p/wait-how-do-you-spell-your-name-again?r=1ktso&utm_medium=ios
Thanks for sharing. I'll check it out.
I’ve written about my name several times over the years…while in college for the student paper I was an editor and as a young reporter working on my first newspaper job (Herald Democrat) in Texas. Since my newsletter is about my journey as a Latina investigative journalist and everything I’ve encountered and overcome over the years…it was time to touch on this silly subject. LOL! Good stuff Pablo!!!! Love that name by the way.
I read your piece. I really liked it!! I also subscribed to your Substack. By the way, your piece inspired me to change the last paragraph of my piece. After reading your piece, the ending of mine felt abrasive. I like the new ending better, so thank you!
Ha! I subscribe to yours after I found it. Awesome. Rewriting is a constant exercise and a good habit to have.
Glad you stuck with Pablo!
As one might guess, my name in all-white Midwest burbs was a tough one. South Indian names are long, and I wanted to change it. And I was YamOOOna throughout school (it is actually YUH-mu-nuh). When I went to my reunion though, people were actually apologetic that they had mispronounced it all along, although it was party my fault because I went along with what was easier for them. But now I'm glad to have stuck with my name, even though it exceeds the character count on Substack notes...
I'm glad I did too, and I'm glad you did too! Regarding your reunion, I had a similar experience last year. I posted another piece about my name on one of my socials, and I got a DM from a guy I went to high school with. He apologized profusely about having made fun of my name. Funny thing is, I didn't even remember him as one of the culprits. Honestly, I'm not even sure I can remember any of them individually. But I appreciated the apology.
That's good to know that people have given their behaviors some thought.
Thanks for sharing your experience with your name, Pablo! It’s so interesting how one’s name affects how we see ourselves and one another.
And it’s wild how casually cruel and racist people can be; hopefully, most grow out of it after high school, although I guess that’s wishful thinking given the world we live in.
If you don’t mind my saying, having read a number of your pieces, I do think your name suits you!
Thanks for reading and for sharing your thoughts. Some do grow out of it. I mentioned in another comment that after sharing a similar piece about my name that I shared on my socials about a year ago, a guy I knew in high school reached out to tell me how sorry he was. He seemed pretty bothered by it. I appreciated the apology. People can grow.
Regarding my name, there were long stretches of my life when I didn't like it. It took me a while, but I came around to it. And now, during this climate, my name feels like an affirmation.
That’s awesome that he gave a heartfelt apology and very true, people can grow!
It reminds of this girl/group of girls who bullied a friend of mine in middle and high school for being gay. At the end of our senior year we had this retreat— I went to an all girls school with a brother school, perhaps similar to what you described— and the girl who bullied her the most apologized to her and seemed to genuinely feel bad, which my friend appreciated.
I’m glad your name feels like an affirmation to you!