B. B. B. The first letter of my last name. I knew almost always when my name was going to be called. My name according to American pronunciation is pronounced, “A-N-N”, yet in Dutch they pronounce it, “O-N-A”. I used to be embarrassed by the constant mispronunciation of my name until my 6th grade English teacher informed me of a wildly valuable realization. My name is a representation of who I am, what I stand for, and what I hope to achieve. My name also represents my ancestors and the responsibility they felt to fight for what they believe in. Mrs. Johns, my sixth-grade teacher, immediately noticed the despair that fell over my face when she mispronounced my name on the first day of school. To her defense, she had no way of knowing how to pronounce my name. After reciting my name incorrectly, and correcting her, Mrs. Johns began questioning me on the origin of my name. At first, I was embarrassed by the attention being focused on me, but looking back it is a moment that I will cherish forever. The confidence she instilled in me that day will be treasured endlessly.
From when I started to read, my name has always been puzzling to me. When my teachers or substitute teachers first read my name on the first day of school I always dreaded it. Students usually start learning how to write in primary school yet the comprehension of the material you are reading does not begin until later in the schooling process. Writing is all around you, on your favorite doll, on your favorite restaurant menu, and so much more. Writing is a template in which we can express our feelings, ideas, beliefs, and opinions in a composed fashion. Reading and writing have never been one of my strong suits. To me, filling my thoughts on a piece of paper was so insufficient. In the past writing had been more of a task to me than a place to store your thoughts. Yet over time, I have developed a new outlook on the writing process. Writing should be viewed as an outlet for thoughts and feelings rather than just the assignments that your English teacher assigned.
My favorite writing activity, even today, is the ability to write your thoughts, regardless of the topic. Free writes or journal keeping is something that I have grown to love. I start each entry with my name at the top, to remind myself that I am proud of who I am. Anne, my name, represents what I will focus on for today, for tomorrow, and for the future. My journal is the outlet of my thoughts- the happy ones, the sad ones, the angry ones, all of them. Writing has become a world for me. A world of lines that have an endless audience all here to hear what I have to say.
Before Mrs. Johns’ 6th grade class, I had been ashamed and embarrassed by my name and the constant need to correct people had become rather infuriating over the years. Yet Mrs. Johns instilled the power and identity that my name gives me, and showed me the power of words, and writing in general. The fear and embarrassment of the mispronunciation of my name are still evident in me today yet ultimately it has instilled in me my love to write.
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