Besides past mispronunciations, I like my name. I’ve only met two other Raquels in my life, at a pool and on an airplane. Feeling unique in my name transfers to my identity. I’ve always strived to present myself in an unreplicable way. Thrifted clothes from head to toe, necklace pendant passed down from my grandmother, Irish freckles popping in the summer. Standing out is not the goal, but feeling like I can be my true self only if no one else can persists in my values. A toy dart was caught by a young girl as my dad tossed it in the pool. Name twins, who were destined to be best friends. Does she have the same core value?

Ewe/young female sheep (“Origin of Raquel”). I just learned this meaning behind my name. What do I even do with this? Should I tell everyone who already knows me? Save it as an anecdote when meeting new people?  Interesting that the name I was assigned for life has no relation to the context of its meaning. How many years would one have to travel back for my name to assign me an identity; “innocence, femininity, and fertility,” gentle, controlled. (“Origin of Raquel”) I’d rather my name be the least interesting thing about me, lacking control over any aspect of myself. Only when it's called by those I love, who make it sound so beautiful, they make me feel lucky that it's mine. Everyone deserves to have pride in their name whether or not it coincides with their identity.