My Name
I wish I could say my name - Kaitlyn - has some cool meaning behind it, or that it is a translation of a word in another language. Unfortunately, the real story is that my name derives from a rerun of an 80s TV episode. Being the second child in my family, my mom wanted my gender to be a surprise and only revealed when I was born. My father was less patient, so he found out from the doctor and was supposed to keep it a secret. One fateful day while they were watching Miami Vice, my dad saw a character named Caitlin and exclaimed "How about naming her Caitlin?", thus revealing my gender. As frustrated as my mom must have been, they agreed on this being my future name. However, they changed the "C" to a "K" and added a "Y" to make it more "exotic". Despite their attempts, I have never viewed my name as unique. This probably has to do with how I can think of several other people with the same name and spelling in my grade. As a result, my name has never defined me. I do not view it as a crucial part of who I am; it is just a word people say to get my attention. For those who view their names as a fundamental part of their identity, my outlook may seem a bit odd. Yet, since I am not defined by my name I do not feel bound to it. "Kaitlyn" is quite versatile, as it can be shorted to "Kate", "Katie", "Kat" or "Kay". If in the future I want to change my name, I can use one of these nicknames without going to the extreme of changing it legally. Thus, not being defined by my name actually gives me more freedom, because I am not constrained by sentimental or familial ties.
Together, but Alone
One of the biggest complaints adults over 25 have is how invested teenagers are in their cell phones and social media. While I may be guilty of sometimes preferring my cell phone over human interaction, I am almost completely isolated from social media. I have never had an account for Facebook, Twitter, Vine, Snap Chat, or Instagram, and I never plan to. Whenever people reel back in shock over this, I simply state that it ensures there is "nothing for or against me on the internet". I have been scared straight by teachers over the years saying the internet is forever, and I do not want one silly comment/picture to permanently affect my life. I do not need social media to interact with my friends, and still feel part of the group in our day-to-day interactions. For the most part, I do not notice my life being different than anyone else's, likely because students are supposed to not use their cell phone during school hours. However, there are certainly times where I feel excluded because of my absence on the internet. It can be as simple as not knowing the latest events, or why everyone seems to be talking about a viral "twitter war" between two students I have never heard of. In the long run these things will have no impact in my life, but in these moments it is easy to feel isolated and alone in my situation.
Kaitlyn, you may not find identity in your name, and that is completely understandable. However, it is important that you know it means so much more to people than you may realize. Kaitlyn although it may not be cast around social media stands for moral strength, incredible intelligence, kindness, and just a darn good friend. Anyone that has not had the chance to learn that this is what Kaitlyn stands for is sadly missing out. I think it shows your strength that you feel freedom in your name and don't feel like you have to be like everyone else. But know there are those that are extremely thankful for getting to know a Kaitlyn.
ReplyDeleteI really liked your response, but after reading it I was curious about what your name really meant. I looked it up and supposedly it means "pure" and is Greek. I think this is interesting because, at least to me, you seem pretty pure. However, I know that this is not the only thing that defines you, but I just thought it was something to think about. I also like how you talked about social media. I know that many people say they have social media because it helps them keep up with people they know and interact with friends, however you talked about how you still stay connected with your friends without social media. This has definitely given me something to think about, as I use two forms of social media, and they can be quite distracting.
ReplyDeleteI think your name is really beautiful, the way it sounds and how your amazing personality compliments it. As I was going through all of our crazy :) classmates' blogs, I saw how several of them have brought in meaning and purpose to their names themselves through their unique personalities. I think this very much applies to you as well because we all associate your name, Kaitlyn, to your bright, friendly, and smart personality.
ReplyDeleteI also really like your point about social media. I think it effectively connects to Anna Quindlen's article and how she feels isolated. I myself do not have any of the social media accounts that you mentioned so I can relate to how it feels. As an individual I feel free of those distractions but when I'm in a group I start to feel as if I am not as well connected as everyone else.
While reading your post, I personally connected in many aspects. I agree in the sense that your name is a label, not something that needs an emotional connection. The perspective on social media I am somewhat indifferent on. Social media can be beneficial in many ways. Its a source of social interaction and allows engagement among people. It allows people to be aware of the world around them. However, the points you made were very strong and something I should consider in the future.
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