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I always get this from my teachers every first day of school.

Teacher: Name please.
Me: Mia Enriquez
Teacher: Full name, hija.
Me: Full name na po yan.
Teacher: Mia lang?
Me: Wala na pong ibang binigay mommy ko eh.

Haha! Yes, my real name is simply Mia. My mom gave me that name just because. Just because. Well, my siblings’ names have stories. My brothers’ names are from my parents’ initials and my sister’s name is her birthday month. And my name? Well, let’s ask my mom.

Me: Ma, bakit Mia pangalan ko?
Mom: Bakit, ayaw mo?
Thank you very much, mom. You’re answer helped.

Anyway, I sometimes find my name a little lame. You know, kids nowadays have like, two to three first names (example: Maria Cristina, Catherine Anne, Mary Jane, Emerald Pearl Diamond—yes, I know her!—and Joanna Angelica Marie) while I only have one, with only three letters.

Sometimes, I wish I had a longer name, a distinct one. Like, Monica Mia Marie and everyone would remember it and just talk about how my name sounds so good and so unique. But then, I realized one thing.
It’s not the name that people will remember. It’s not the long name or the unique name that will make an impact on them. It’s your personality and values that they will remember forever.

The “manong guard” and the “manong janitor” in school may not know your name, but they sure know that every time you see them, you stop to say hello or good morning. Your teacher, the really forgetful one, she may not remember your name, but she knows that you always recite in her class and that you always offer to help her carry her bag.

Always remember this; you were just given a name so that people will know how to address you. It’s now up to you to make them remember you.

Happy with my name,
Mia-”mheems”