My name is very valuable to me and to my family. My full name is James Robinson Carroll VI. I am the sixth generation of James Robinson Carroll's on my dad's side of the family. My father is James R. Carroll V, and his father is James R. Carroll IV. I also intend to name my child James Robinson Carroll VII. This name defines me as a member of the Carroll family. However, whenever my family gets mail, sometimes the sender does not put the suffix on James Robinson Carroll so there is a bit of confusion over who's mail it is (It is usually bills, so it is usually my dad's). I go by Robinson, my dad goes by James, and his dad goes by J.R. When people ask me to explain how my name doesn't get confusing in our family, I just try to explain to them that even though we all have the same name, we go by different names. It isn't very confusing to me, but to other people it is and I do not understand it. My name is very important to me and I wouldn't rather have any other name. I will never change my last name after marriage, and I don't agree with double/hyphenated last names. I don't agree with them because, for years past men have kept their last names and women have changed their last name to their middle name. That is how it is meant to be and I don't agree with double last names.
In my life, I am seen as an individual, yet also as a member of the Ward family. This may seem weird because my name does not have Ward anywhere in it, however, I am more identified on my mom's side of the family because I have taken more interests into what her family does; fishing, hunting, etc. As an individual I am more vulnerable and I do not like that. I have made many mistakes in my life that will be carried with me, however they will not be carried in my family. Throughout high school, every mistake that I have ever made has been viewed as no more than James Robinson Carroll VI, not the Ward family, and not the Carroll family. As high school nears its end for me, I am more and more excited. I am excited to be able to leave the world of James Robinson Carroll VI in Raleigh NC behind and start fresh with no mistakes and no judgements in college. As for me being viewed as a member of the Ward family, I am seen as a product of my Grandfather and my Uncle. Whenever I go hunting and fishing with my family I get so many more privileges than the average person will get because my family's name holds great weight in that community. My Grandfather has been a member of Crow Hill Hunting Club since my mother was a child. He is also a dentist in Jacksonville, North Carolina. I have had free dental work my entire life, and I don't know anything else. Another part of my family also holds very large ground, and that is my Great Aunt and Uncle, my Grandfather's brother and his wife. They have season tickets to East Carolina Football games, and are very involved with the school. It may help my chances of getting in. The Ward family are very outgoing people and they have so many connections. I love being a part of that family and don't ever want to leave. Instead of being viewed as James Robinson Carroll VI, I am viewed as Wade Ward's Grandson, and Chris Ward's nephew, and I wouldn't want it any other way.
This was a really great post- your name story was neat to read, especially about how you identify differently with both sides of your family. Thanks for sharing!
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