blog

Recharge your wellness. Find solutions to your sex, identity, relationship, and mental health questions.

From Name to Advocacy: A Journey of Identity and Diversity

As a child, I struggled with a name that felt foreign and distinct in a sea of Ashleys and Sarahs. I longed for the simplicity of a "normal" name, one that wouldn't raise eyebrows or require an intricate explanation. Each school year, the dread of the attendance roll call would creep in, filling me with anxiety and anticipation. Would my teacher pronounce my name correctly, or would I endure yet another mispronunciation? Often, I chose silence, letting them mangle my name to avoid the awkwardness of correction.