origin of your name essay

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What’s the Story Behind Your Name?

Questions about issues in the news for students 13 and older.

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An article today about a man who did not officially have a first name until he was 19 asks the question, “What’s in a name?” Do you like your name? How did you get it? How has it shaped you? If, like this man, you had to officially name yourself now, would you keep the name you’ve had all your life, or take another? Why?

Erik Eckholm writes about cartoonist Max Pauson and how life without a name shaped him:

…this promising art student’s strong sense of self was hard-earned. It was forged in an unstable, emotionally wrenching childhood and, in an odd detail that might serve as a metaphor for his struggles, it comes after 19 years of life without a legal name. His birth certificate read only “(baby boy) Pauson.” Name to come. His father had disappeared. His mother — in his words, “a pack rat who takes a really long time to decide on anything” — did not pick a first name at the hospital in San Francisco in 1990. And she never followed up, leaving him in a rare and strange limbo. While Mr. Pauson was long aware of the blank spot in his identity, he never quite had the time or means to correct it. He lived with his mother in a house that sometimes lacked electricity. He spent time in foster care and returned to live with his mother in homeless shelters and in public housing. Finally, at 15, he ran away to live with friends’ families. In an era when identities and backgrounds are scrutinized more than ever, he still managed to get into schools, though he never tried to obtain a driver’s license.

Students: Tell us how you got your name, how it defines you, and whether or not you would keep it if you could rename yourself now.

Students 13 and older are invited to comment below. Please use only your first name. For privacy policy reasons, we will not publish student comments that include a last name.

Teachers: Here are ten ways to teach with this feature.

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i would keep mine i would never change mini

Kelly Fortunato is a name that I have answered to multiple times. It has appeared on bills, on my college transcripts, and has been called out loud at the DMV. Unbeknownst to me, it has changed my gender countless times, and prompted me to explain myself on several occasions. People are suprised when I actually introduce my self as Fortunato Kelly. I know that it sounds like the pen name of a 18th century ex-pat, hints at luck, or even passes as regal, but it’s entirely mine, and of varied construction. The latin roots shine through, but I’m blessed to be named after my mother’s father, who was of Filipino, Chinese, and Malay blood. The Kelly roots come from my father, who lools like his Irish, German, and Portuguee roots suggest he should. In analyzing my personal genealogy, I find myself compelled to get others to seek comfort in their individual histories, know where they come from, and live up to the standards set by our lineage in the American experience. In these capricious times, one constant is the safety and security of knowing yourself, and being comfortable with it. Cheers for reading, Fortunato Kelly

So, if he didnt have a name until he was 19, what was the name that people were calling him up until then? was it hey you? or wat? im just wondering because how would people get his attention if he had no name.

If I had to pick out a name for myself, I would have to choose from five names: 1) Isabella 2)Stella 3)Aila 4)Katherine 5)Theresa I would choose one of these names because they are pretty and just roll out of the mouth, much better than mine.

i was named after the arabic word for perfect but people are constantly mispronouncing it. if i cud change my name, id change it to Zoey

I love my name. It’s really pretty, and it has a nice ring. It’s plain, but I’m not plain, so I kind of like that. And I have neat nicknames, like Em, Emmie, Ems and a whole bunch other! Emily.

I got my name from brian because my mom and dad wanted a boy but when i came out they hurry and put an A at the end to make briana. A lot of people have my name and i have always wanted to have a rare name but i dont think i would change it. even if i wanted to i wouldnt know what to change it to.

I like the names GIRLS: 1. Abigail 2. Hannah Marie 3. Bri Ann BOYS: 1. Johnny 2. andrew 3. Dom

I have liked the girls names from when I was 3 and i still do. I like abigail because i use to be a saftey when i was in 5th grade at my school and one of the girls name was abigain and i fell in love with the name.

I like the name johnny because that is my boyfriends name, i like andrew because it is my boy friends brothers name and i just think dom is a cool name

I officially have 2 names. one is Kathleen and one is Hak Young. Hak Young is the name that my parents gave me and Kathleen is just my english name. I love my english name but sometimes i don’t like my korean name. It kinda sounds like boy’s name in korea, and i do want to change my name to something else but that would be too complicated. Thus, i chose not to change my name after all.

I’m a Rebecca after my grandmother Rebecca and straight from the torah, Rebecca. My name connects me to my family, to my history, to my faith, to myself. I’ve always loved being named after my grandmother; loved not being a Becky or a Becca; loved what my name means to me.

My name, Meris, comes from a classmate of my Mom, at the University of Rhode Island, who had a daughter, Meris. I love it, and I couldn’t do so well, as to give myself this name! I would keep; it for sure.

The story behind my name is actually quit funny. I was suppose to be named Alexandra Sarah S[.] untill my dad realized my initiales were gonna be A.S.S. Alexandra was my great grandmothers first name and my mom wanted me to be named after her but she also liked the name Sarah. So now im Sarah Alexandra S[.]

My name is very common in the way it is originally spelled Christine. But my mother decided to be unique and spell my name Kristine. Plenty of times i have had to correct people because they may spell it incorrectly, and i have always been happy with my name because it is just a part of me. When researching my name i had found that it is of Scandinavian descent and basically means christian which is what i am. I am proud of my name and i would never want to change it because it is what my mother named me and it has become me too.

Your name is the one part of your life that society cannot strip away. Even the most destitute people, those living on the streets, do have one thing to cherish– their identity. A name is only as special as one makes it throughout their life, and is a reflection of how well one lives their life. On the one end of the spectrum, you have those who have ended up making their names known for the wrong reason, aka the FBI Ten Most Wanted Criminals. On the other end, you have those people whose names are to be revered because of the good they have done or the influence they have. And then there are those whose names have been stamped into history. If one is capable of doing something extremely remarkable (or extremely terrible during a critical period) history will remember your name long after you have died and impress upon you legacy. Names are an essential tool, without which one cannot hope to fathom working in the modern world.

My name in particular, Zahra, is derived from Arabic origins meaning “starlight.” I find my name to be a bit out of tune with other people, but generally I am quite fond of it. I sometimes feel queer about it though because I feel that people find it a bit odd to say, but I don’t mind in the least. Originally, my mother wanted to name me Aisha, but a few days after I was born, I became very sick. My grandmother suggested that the name “Aisha” didn’t “suit me very well” and was the cause of my illness. Of course that was not true, but my mm reconsidered and changed my name to Zahra.

My middle name came from my grandmother’s name. I was named after her because my mother is very close with her, and the name has a good message. I got my first name because my mom liked it. It’s Italian, and I am Italian. My mom was going to name both my brothers my name if they were girls.

My name means Rival Torch, from some What Does My Name Mean website. Otherwise, my mom liked Emily and my great grandma’s name was Lena. Emily Lena. ~Emily Lena

I was born named Baby Girl Medrano

I love my name. Amanda- one who is lovable or one eho loves. ^(^

My name is Melissa. I love my name exactly the way it is. My name means honey bee. My mom liked the name Melissa because when she was little her job was to take out the honey for the bees. So she thought to name the youngest a name that means honey bee.

My first name I don’t think describes me, boring normal story my mom read a baby book and found Laura and fell in love with it but my father thought that Lauren sounded better with my last name. I think my middle name is what really defines my personality and is strongly connected to my roots. My middle name is Keating. My mom noticed that my grandma’s maiden name would not be passed on to anyone because her brother never got married. So she decided to carry on the semi-lost family name she passed it to me. I think this defines me because I’m traditional and strongly connected to my roots. Also because Keating is different and I love being unique. Though it is still traditional.

I was born in Vicenza, Italy, on the army base. My mom and other women on the base would pick Italian or Latin names. So I was named Mercedes. Many people compare my name to the car, but I tell them this; Benz, the car maker, got the name Mercedes from the daughter of a friend of his, who was a French Financer. I love my name, not because it is named after the car, but because its’ meaning. Mercedes drivesa latin word that means merciful and I love it!!!

My name is Chrysanthi. I love my name and i would never change it. It means ”golden flower”.

My name is Samantha , and I don’t think I would want to change my name because I can be called by short nick names. Like sammy, or sam is fine with me. My mom and dad thought of the name, but this was going to be my middle name but my dad liked the name Samantha better. I think my name fits me well, and I wouldn’t want to change it at all.

I have been called Mickey, Mickey Mouse, Rob, Robbie, Robinarama. Don’t mind nicknames if they are from good friends or family. Another insulting use of general nicknames for females is, “sweetheart, honey, babe, etc. by men with whom you are NOT familiar. I will always correct them by telling them, “My name is not honey,” or ” I have a name, address me by it.” You don’t hear men being called babe or honey by strangers. Absolutely unacceptable.

What's Next

Essays About Your Name: Top 5 Examples and 6 Prompts

Every person’s name is special. Read the following essays about your name for examples and prompts to discover how you can create a thoughtful and personal piece.

Whether given or chosen, names have a powerful hold over each person. They can be curious mysteries, reminders of painful pasts, fond monikers, or personal treasures. Like our faintest scars and mental states, they also have deep histories ingrained into our very being. They can become means by which we trace our ancestors, create opportunities, or cherish our present situations. Your name is more than a means of calling your attention. It can convey an abstract idea of your personhood, experiences, and beliefs.

For example, what comes to mind when you hear the name Marilyn Monroe ? Most people think of the iconic blond bombshell from the 1950s to the early 1960s. Depending on how much you know about her, you may know her as a bright and determined woman or a sweet but ditzy character, which she often played in TV and film roles. Her name alone indicates her accolades, skills, and perceived personality.

5 Essay Examples

1. long essay on what’s in a name by prasanna, 2. the story of my name by rong xiaoqing, 3. the mystery of carl miller by sarah miller, 4. name and identity by jennifer wang, 5. call you by your name by roxanne krystalli, 1. the power of nicknames, 2. my unique and interesting name, 3. what it’s like being named after popular people, 4. why i chose this nickname, 5. cultural names and their meanings, 6. my name if i were from a different place.

“In a deep sense what creates the true meaning and power of a name is the worth of the individual or thing as reflected in the outer world.”

Prasanna divides her essay into three parts, explaining how people receive their names, how these monikers affect their identities, and how powerful names can be. The essay title was lifted from William Shakespeare’s “ Romeo and Juliet ,” reiterating Juliet’s profound line, “What’s in a name? What we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet.” This script refers to the reality that names’ importance is directly related to the unique qualities someone possesses.

For help with your essays, check out our round-up of the best essay checkers .

“Those who read my name did not know how to pronounce it, and those who heard it did not know how to write it.”

Rong shares her struggles of being a Chinese American and the complications of her name. Her name contains two of the most complicated Chinese characters that she found difficult to write when she was young, plus it was hard to pronounce in English. However, when Rong learned the meaning of her name, she fell in love with it.

In the next section of her essay, she talks about instances where names are more than names, referring to cases such as a parent losing custody of their children for giving them Nazi names. Rong also includes relevant studies that connect names and race and the times people deliberately mispronounced her name to be cruel. She concludes that she’s still growing and has all the time in the world to learn more about herself.

Looking for more? Check out these essays about names and essays about self .

“The last name Miller says nothing about me, but if pressed I would say I appreciate the way it evokes a beautiful neutrality, and the way it reminds me that all of us could so easily have been someone else.”

The author, Sarah Miller, only knows part of the story behind her ancestors. In her essay, she shares a few facts about her father’s birth and what she knew of her grandmother, then she recalls how she often asked about her grandfather, Carl Miller. The essay focuses on the author’s curiosity about Carl Miller and her emotional journey about accepting that she might never learn more about him.

“No others show me being stretched between two very different cultures and places—the ‘Jennifer’ clashing with the ‘Wang,’ the ‘Wang’ fighting with the ‘Jennifer.’”

In this short essay, Wang describes her internal confusion between her two cultures, disclosing how she struggles to be in the United States as a Chinese woman. She remembers how she wandered toy aisles looking for dolls with the same skin tone as hers and how she turned to shun her Asian heritage because she didn’t understand it. While the essay centers around Wang trying to introduce herself, her writing echoes the dilemma many young immigrants still face today.

“By the time I went to college, Roxani had been left behind. I was fully Roxanne by then, until one day my roommate beckoned: “Rooooox, do you want to watch an episode of something with me?” My father had an aversion to nicknames and never called me anything short of my full name: Roxani.”

Krystalli talks about how her name transitioned from the Greek Roxani to Roxanne to several other variations and then back again. She shares her life experiences and thoughts about these names as she grew up and gained new monikers. By the end of her essay, Krystalli tells the reader how she yearns to become Roxani again and reconnect with her Greek roots.

6 Prompts for Writing Essays About Your Name

Your nickname has a history that is as unique as yours. Nicknames are unpredictable and can sometimes be challenging to accept. For example, some children often pick nicknames based on their peer’s appearance, particularly if something stands out to them. However, nicknames can often be a sign of affection; naming someone with a nickname can be a way to show your friendship and close bond.

With this prompt, share how you dealt with any given nicknames you didn’t like. You can also speak about a short backstory of how others chose these nicknames. Explain your thoughts when you felt like you had no choice but to take other people’s nicknames for you. 

Whether your parents got creative in naming you or you chose a one-of-a-kind name for yourself, those with unique names share distinct experiences. For example, people may rarely pronounce or read it correctly. Others may have difficulty spelling your name when they need to write it down. 

In this prompt, share your experiences that connect to your unique name. Talk about the most interesting and memorable instances you remember and if you expect them to happen again.

If your parents are die-hard fans and decided to name you after their favorite book character, musician, or public figure, your name can feel like a borrowed one. Although some enjoy sharing names with well-known people, others would rather have a unique name. 

Delve into people’s reactions when they learn your name in your essay. Discuss how you’ve handled their jokes, or share the questions you already anticipate once they realize where your name came from.

Your name can change people’s perception of you, and choosing a nickname gives you control over that. This prompt is excellent if you have a nickname that has no connection with your given name. It’s also a great conversation starter. In your essay, explain why you chose that moniker and what it means to you. 

You can also add how people reacted before and after they learned the history of it. Your nickname doesn’t have to have a deep history. It can be as simple as earning the nickname “Cookie” because you like to eat cookies.

In some cultures, people still practice giving traditional names or nicknames to children, and you may belong to a culture that does the same. If you want to share this experience with your readers, discuss your name in this essay. Explain the language your name comes from, what it means, and why you received it. You can also give other examples, like the nicknames of your siblings, cousins, or ancestors.

Appreciation of another culture can push us to ponder what we’ll be called if we were from that group. If you’ve had an intense interest and appreciation for another culture or country, you may have already thought about how you want to be addressed. Share the name you chose, its meaning, and why you picked it. This also extends to fictional or fantasy worlds or cultures. 

Tip: If writing an essay sounds like a lot of work, simplify it. Write a simple 5 paragraph essay instead. For help picking your next essay topic, check out our 20 engaging essay topics about family .

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The story of my name, "everyone has a name, and i'm sure if you go and ask around, there is a some kind of story behind every name.".

Yes, you read that headline right. This is the story of my name.

Everyone has a name, and I'm sure if you go and ask around, there is a some kind of story behind every name. They may be named after a family member, a place that had value to your parents, or maybe, there isn't a reason at all, and your parents just liked it and decided that what you should be called for the rest of your life.

The story of my name is not like that at all, you see, it wasn't even my parents who named me, it was my brother.

What? Your brother?

Yes, my brother. Here's how this odd story goes...

It wasn't like my parents just weren't prepared to name me. They had several names picked out before I was born. However, they were the kind of people who wanted a surprise, so they did not know I was a girl until I made my debut. Overjoyed at this discovery, they decided to share the good news with my Nana who was also watching my brother. My Nana, who I'm sure enthusiastically handed over the phone to my brother, told him that his mom and dad were on the phone and that they had good news. Finally on the receiving end of the call, my brother eagerly awaited the news he had wanted to hear. That he now had a baby brother.

One problem though, I was... A GIRL.

So the conversation went something like this (keep in mind my brother was like 8 at the time).

Mom & Dad: Honey! We have great news! You have a baby sister!

My Brother:

Mom & Dad: Aren't you excited?

*Brother proceeds to scream in what seems like agony and throws the phone at the wall effectively ending conversation, and breaking the phone*

Okay, so my brother was not happy, and apparently he was in a sour mood too when he finally got to the hospital. My parents, in order to help him get excited about my arrival I guess decided to give him the great honor of naming me. That's when he decided to name me Nicole.

Hmmm. not too shabby of a name for an eight year old.

I'm Nicole and this was the story of my name.

What's yours?

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A long over due thank you note to my greatest passion..

Dearest Yoga,

You deserve a great thank you.

Never would I have thought a few years ago that I would be such a huge yoga fanatic, that I would be hitting the gym almost every day to get to class, and that I would be forming all these amazing relationships with so many incredible people who also share a love for you. You've enhanced my way of life in numerous ways that I need to thank you for.

Thank you for showing me my true strength. Not only physical strength, but more importantly mental strength. You've shown me that I am more than what others may think of me, and that I can rise above any obstacle that comes through my path.

Thank you for helping me to walk through life with grace and passion. To love what I do and love the life that I share with those around me. Before experiencing yoga, I never truly understood what it was like to be passionate about something. Now that I have, not only do I know what it's like to be passionate, but also have a willing to be passionate.

Thank you for teaching me what it is like to appreciate the small things in life. Which has only helped me more to appreciate the big things. You've shown me to not only appreciate the life around me, but also to give myself the appreciation that I deserve. And more importantly, give others the appreciation that they deserve.

Thank you for allowing me to let go. Whenever I feel as if I need a break from the world, the yoga studio is the first place I think of. As soon as I enter the studio, the outside world leaves my mind. You've allowed me an escape that I will be forever thankful for.

Thank you for turning me into a mindful person. Having mindfulness is harder than it seems, especially here in today's society. Over the past couple years, I have become more mindful to the world around me, I have been able to truly be myself and let everyone else be themselves -- all thanks to yoga.

And lastly, thank you for allowing me to breathe. As simple as it sounds, breathing is the one thing that I carry around most with me off the mat. Deep breaths are what get me through the day. Throughout tough situations, emotional battles, and stressful times, I always know to come back to my yoga, to come back to my breath.

I only hope that those around me feel the same way as I do about you, yoga. You have truly transformed my life in the best way imaginable. It is a gift and a great privilege to be able to experience the practice. Thanks to you, I have grown as a person, proved to myself the true strength I have, become more aware and have ultimately started living a better life.

You're the best,

Your Yoga-Obsessed Friend

Epic Creation Myths: Norse Origins Unveiled

What happened in the beginning, and how the heavens were set in motion..

Now, I have the everlasting joy of explaining the Norse creation myth. To be honest, it can be a bit kooky, so talking about it is always fun. The entire cosmos is included in this creation myth, not just the earth but the sun and the moon as well. This will be a short retelling, a summary of the creation myth, somewhat like I did with Hermod's ride to Hel.

The Norse cosmos began with two worlds, Niflheim and Muspellheim. These two worlds, the worlds of primordial cold and fire , were separated by a great fissure called Ginnungagap. The waters from the well Hvergelmir, at the center of Niflheim, by many rivers flowed into Ginnungagap and "when those rivers, which are called Elivagar, came so far from their source, the poisonous flow hardened like a slag of cinders running from a furnace, and became ice. ...Then layer by layer, the ice grew within Ginnungagap" (Byock 13). The northernmost regions of the gap filled with hoar frost and rime, but the southernmost were "the regions bordering on Muspell [and] were warm and bright" (Byock 13). Where the cold of Niflheim's ice and the warmth of Muspellheim's fire met in Ginnungagap the ice thawed, and "there was a quickening in these flowing drops and life sprang up" (Byock 14). From the ice came Ymir, known as Aurgelmir by the giants, the origin of all frost giants. As the wise giant Vafthruthnir says, "'down from Elivagar did venom drop, / And waxed till a giant it was; / And thence arose our giants' race, / And thus so fierce are we found'" (Bellows 76-77).

25 Throwback Songs You Forgot About

But you know you still know every word..

We all scroll through the radio stations in the car every once in a while, whether its because we lost signal to our favorite one or we are just bored with the same ol' songs every day. You know when you're going through and you hear a song where you're just like "I forgot this existed!" and before you know it, you're singing every word? Yeah, me too. Like, 95% of the time. If you're like me and LOVE some good throwback music, here's a list of songs from every genre that have gotten lost in time, but never truly forgotten.

1. "Big Pimpin'" - Jay-Z ft. UGK

Jay-Z gives us a ballad about, you guessed it, pimpin' big in NYC. Jay-Z's rhymes paired with that catchy beat is just bound to get stuck in your head for the rest of the night.

2. "Mr. Brightside" - The Killers

If you say that you don't know any of the words to this song, you're the worst kind of person... a liar. This classic has left stamps of its lyrics on 99% of the population, and has a forever spot in my soul.

3. "Lose Yourself" - Eminem

This song always leaves me feeling like I could sign a record deal and launch my career as a rap/hip-hop legend... and craving spaghetti.

4. "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (The Angry American) - Toby Keith

A ballad for the ages that brings the overly patriotic American badass out of all of us.

5. "Drop It Like It's Hot" - Snoop Dogg ft. Pharrell Williams

SNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!

6. "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" - Green Day

This song makes me want to walk down a lonely road, preferably a dark one, and reflect on all of my life choices. Nevertheless, it's still a fantastic song.

7. "I Write Sins Not Tragedies" - Panic! At The Disco

If your friends don't "chime in" by screaming the chorus at the top of their lungs in the car with you, it's time to leave them there and find new friends. Also, did anyone ever tell the groom what his bride has been up to?

8. "Semi-Charmed Life" - Third Eye Blind

A life anthem for all of us. Third Eye Blind has recently released another album. My inner child is tingling.

9. "Baby Got Back" - Sir Mix A Lot

Nicki Minaj sampled this in her song "Anaconda" in 2014. Take a minute to realize that some people have heard that, but not the REAL jam that the sample came from. Now, cry.

10. "Get Low" - Lil Jon ft. Ying Yang Twinz

The real question is which version is better: Lil Jon's or Sandra Bullock's?

11. "Check Yes Or No" - George Strait

You don't have to be a country lover to know this song. My hardcore rocker/screamo friend even knows the chorus. Don't try and tell me you don't. I don't like liars.

12. "Ride Wit Me" - Nelly

"Ayyyyye, must be the monaaayyy!" - frequently screamed lyric

13. "Pony" - Ginuwine

Even though I can't hear this song without seeing Channing Tatum's half naked body in my mind, it's still one of my favorite songs to hear. Instant day brightener when I hear that funky beat at the beginning.

14. "Cleanin' Out My Closet" - Eminem

As sad as these lyrics are, Eminem really hit this one out of the park.

15. "Gangstas Paradise" - Coolio

10/10 would recommend listening to Weird Al's parody of this song.

16. "It Was A Good Day" - Ice Cube

The first time I heard this may have been on Grand Theft Auto, but that doesn't mean that it isn't a great song.

17. "What's Your Fantasy" - Ludacris

Another song that I knew most of the lyrics to that I probably shouldn't have at a young age.

18. "Everybody (Backstreets Back)" - Backstreet Boys

They really were back, and we all wish they had stayed.

19. "Misery Business" - Paramore

I can't tell if I want to be Hayley Williams or be ON Hayley Williams. I'd be okay with either. #girlcrush

20. "Steal My Sunshine" - Len

This feel good song makes me want to rip open a popsicle and ride my bicycle around town.

21. "Fly" - Sugar Ray

As repetitive as this is, this song will never get old.

22. "Song 2" - Blur

23. "buddy holly" - weezer.

Weezer may have hated this song, but we are glad they recorded it.

24. "No Rain" - Blind Melon

Maybe it's just me who is obsessed with this song, but if you haven't heard it, I highly recommend.

25. "99 Problems" - Jay-Z

I have 99 problems, and this playlist solves all of them.

27 Hidden Joys

Appreciation for some of life's most discredited pleasures..

Life is full of many wonderful pleasures that many of us, like myself, often forget about. And it's important to recognize that even on bad days, good things still happen. Focusing on these positive aspects of our day-to-day lives can really change a person's perspective. So in thinking about the little things that make so many of us happy , I've here's a list of some of the best things that often go unrecognized and deserve more appreciation:

1. Sun showers

3. tight hugs, 4. discovering new foods you like., 5. laying in bed after a long day., 6. and being completely relaxed, 7. "this reminded me of you", 8. breakfast foods, 9. over-sized clothes, 10. contagious laughs, 11. car rides with that one person, 12. random (i miss you/ i love you) texts, 13. the city at night, 14. surprises, 15. blanket cocoons, 16. good hair days, 17. really good coffee, 18. days where you're in a good mood naturally and for no particular reason, 19. conquering a fear, 20. when they give you a lot of guac at chipotle, 21. being so comfortable with someone that you can literally talk about anything, 22. home-cooked meals, 23. tattoo stories, 24. leaves changing color in fall, 25. butterflies in your stomach, 26. peanut butter & jelly sandwiches, 27. when you can't stop laughing, cool off with these 8 beers.

Summer is hot and humid, and it's almost like summer was made specifically to drink the refreshing, cold, crisp wonderful, delicious, nutritious nectar of the gods. Which is none other than beer; wonderful cold beer. With summer playing peek-a-boo around the corner while we finish up this semester, it's time to discuss the only important part of summer. And if you haven't already guessed, it's beer. There are few things I take more seriously than my beer, in order are: sports ... and beer. Here are my favorite summer brews:

Coors Light Summer Brew:

This summer shandy begins this list, it's a mix of lemon, lime and orange. While this is by no means a craft beer, it still has it place as a refreshing summer brew to enjoy.

Leinenkugel Summer Shandy

Solid choice for any summer get together, great taste with a hint of citrus.

Leinenkugel Sunset Wheat

Distinctly reminds me of Fruity Pebbles, but nonetheless is a wonderful summer beer.

Want to know more about beer?

Summertime is the perfect time for beer, and that's why International Beer Day is on August 2nd. Our community has you covered with more stories about beer, including:

• The Benefits of Drinking Beer : Let us count the ways. There are more than you might think.
• Delicious Beer Substitutes : Is beer not typically your thing? Try one of these instead.
• Unique Beer Flavors to Try : Whether it's hard apple cider or the tase of wild blueberries, these are great options.
• If College Majors Were Beers : Business, sports medicine, design – there's a beer for every major.

Sam Adams Summer Ale

Sam Adams is known for their traditional Boston Lager, but their Summer Ale is damn good.

Hell or High Watermelon

Made with real watermelon, not much is more summer-esque than juicy watermelon in July.

Blue Moon Summer Honey

I love me some Blue Moon, so the summer brew is a no-brainer on this list.

LandShark Lager

Fun fact: LandShark is owned by Anheuser-Busch, and is more commonly know as the signature drink of Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville.

Obviously Corona had to take the number one spot. To me, there's nothing more refreshing than a cold Corona with lime on a hot summer day.

So whether you're on a sandy beach, a fishing boat, or at a pool, just remember what our dear friend Jack Nicholson said, "Beer, it's the best damn drink in the world."

Drink responsibly and never drink and drive.

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How to Write an Essay about Your Name

Are you looking for an easy and quick way to write an essay about your name? Then this is the perfect tutorial for you! 

I’m Constance, and in this tutorial, I will show you how to write an essay about your name in six simple steps. I will also give you an example of such an essay as we go through the process step by step.

Let’s begin!

Step 1: Choose your main idea.

If you want to organize your thoughts and present them clearly and concisely in an essay, you need to choose your thesis — a main idea for your essay. Simply take a stand and write it down as a simple sentence.

What do you want to say about your name? Do you like your name? Do you think it’s interesting? Whatever you think of will act as your thesis . 

For example, you can say, “I love my name.”   Note that we kept it really simple. By doing so, we can clearly think of the next things we need for the essay.

Step 2: Think of three supporting ideas.

Trying to write an essay on only one undivided idea or thesis will get you stuck.

So, you need more than one idea. Two ideas are better than one. Three is even better. But four may be too many because you’re just writing a simple essay. 

So, coming up with three supporting ideas is the best method. Why? Because three is the perfect number the brain can handle. And it works all the time! We call it the Power of Three.

So, let’s use the Power of Three to keep our ideas flowing.

The Power of Three is a three-part structure that divides your main idea into three distinct supporting points. It helps create your body paragraphs.

Let’s apply it to an essay about your name. 

Ask yourself – “why do I love my name?” And write down three answers. Here are mine:

• I like its Latin origin .
• I like how my parents came up with it.
• It sounds great .

Using ideas that are too similar to each other may cause writer’s block. So, note that our three supporting points are totally different from one another.

Keep them distinct and simple to avoid running out of things to write down the line.

Step 3: Write your thesis statement.

Now that we have a clear picture of the essay’s structure, we can write a thesis statement.  

When writing a thesis statement, take your main idea and its supporting points and write them out as a sentence or complete sentences in a single paragraph.

Once you’ve written your thesis statement, you have a nice outline for your essay.

Here’s an example of a thesis statement:

“I love my name because I like its Latin origin, the story of how my parents came up with it is pretty cool, and it sounds great, too.”

Note how clear the statement is. We started with our thesis, and the three supporting points sound like great ideas to back it up. So, it works.

Great! Now, we’re ready for the next step.

Step 4: Write the body paragraphs.

After dividing our main idea into three distinct points, we can easily write three body paragraphs for our essay.

When writing a body paragraph , you should start with a topic sentence summarizing the entire paragraph. Then, briefly explain it and illustrate it using examples .

Note that your paragraphs should go from general to specific. 

In a body paragraph, your topic sentence (the first sentence) is the most general statement. After writing your topic sentence, you will unpack it by writing more specifically, using an explanation and examples.

Here are examples of body paragraphs for our essay:

Paragraph 1

One of the few things I like about my name is its etymology. It has a Latin origin, rooted in the word “constantem,” which means “faithful” or “steadfast.” It is a name that represents perseverance and dedication regardless of the challenges ahead. I could not be more proud and grateful for my name’s origin. It reflects my determined personality and my loyalty to the people I love.

Paragraph 2

I also love that I was named after my grandmother Constancia. I appreciate my mom and dad naming me after her – someone I loved so much. My grandmother was an amazing woman. She raised eight kids despite her humble status in life, which highlighted her steadfastness. And she was faithful to her family and supported it however she could.

Paragraph 3

My name has a certain sonorous quality to it with its consonants that roll off the tongue. I am thankful for the sound of my name. It has a beautiful melody to it that I always love to hear. Every time I hear it, it brings me a sense of warmth and joy and puts a smile on my face.

Note how each paragraph proceeds from a general statement to more specific points.

Now that we’ve written our body paragraphs, we are ready for the next step.

Step 5: Write the introduction and conclusion.

Introduction.

An introduction can be just one more general sentence, after which you should simply proceed to your thesis statement, which includes your thesis and three supporting points.

Here’s an example of an entire introductory paragraph:

Many of us may not think much about it, but our names are a part of our identity and can have a lasting impact on us. I love my name because of its Latin origin, the story of how my parents came up with it, and its cool sound. My name means “constant” or “steadfast” in Latin, which reflects my determined personality. It came from my grandmother’s name, Constancia, whom I loved so much. And it just sounds amazing, even if I only say so myself.”

If you want a time-proven, easy, and quick way to write a conclusion for your essays, I recommend restating what you stated in your introduction using different words. 

Here’s an example of a conclusion for our essay:

My name is an important part of my identity and has a special place in my heart. It has a meaningful linguistic origin from the Latin word constantem, meaning “steadfastness.” It is a special reminder of my grandmother, Constancia. And it has a nice ring to it that brings me joy.

Now, we’re ready for the final step.

Step 6: Proofread.

The final step in writing an essay is going back and proofreading it. Look out for:

• Misspellings
• Grammatical errors
• Irrelevant material (stuff that doesn’t belong in the essay)
• Contradictions (make sure you don’t contradict your own points)

And we are done writing an example of an essay about a name. 

I hope you learned a lot in this tutorial. Now go ahead and write an essay about your name!

Tutor Phil is an e-learning professional who helps adult learners finish their degrees by teaching them academic writing skills.

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Picture Prompts

The Story of Your Name

By Katherine Schulten

• March 14, 2019

What is your name, and how did you get it?

Have you ever altered or changed your name for any reason? Has anyone else? For instance, maybe you go by a nickname more often than the name on your birth certificate. Which of the names you are called do you like best? Why?

If you are an immigrant, is your name one that is easily understood, pronounced and spelled in the place you live now? If not, what has that been like for you?

Tell us in the comments, then read a related essay from the Opinion section to learn more.

Find many more ways to use our Picture Prompt feature in this lesson plan .

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Names and Identity

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In this essay, 17-year-old Jennifer Wang, who came to the United States from Beijing, China, when she was seven, reflects on a time when she had to introduce herself to a group of strangers at a new school.

Something about myself? How do I summarize, in thirty seconds, everything which adds up and equals a neat little bundle called Me? Who am I, and why do I matter to any of you? First of all, I am a girl who wandered the aisles of Toys “R” Us for two hours, hunting in vain for a doll with a yellowish skin tone. I am a girl who sat on the cold bathroom floor at seven in the morning, cutting out the eyes of Caucasian models in magazines, trying to fit them on my face . . . While I was growing up, I did not understand what it meant to be “Chinese” or “American.” Do these terms link only to citizenship? Do they suggest that people fit the profile of either “typical Chinese” or “typical Americans”? And who or what determines when a person starts feeling American, and stops feeling Chinese? I eventually shunned the Asian crowds. And I hated Chinatown. . . . I hated the noise, the crush of bodies, the yells of mothers to fathers to children to uncles to aunts to cousins. . . . I hated not understanding their language in depth—the language of my ancestors, which was also supposed to be mine to mold and master.  I am still not a citizen of the United States of America, this great nation, which is hailed as the destination for generations of people, the promised land for millions. . . . I stare blankly at my friends when they mention the 1980s or share stories of their parents as hippies. And I hate baseball. The question lingers: Am I Chinese? Am I American? Or am I some unholy mixture of both, doomed to stay torn between the two? I don’t know if I’ll ever find the answers. Meanwhile, it’s my turn to introduce myself . . . I stand up and say, “My name is Jennifer Wang,” and then I sit back down. There are no other words that define me as well as those do. No others show me being stretched between two very different cultures and places—the “Jennifer” clashing with the “Wang,” the “Wang” fighting with the “Jennifer.” 1

• 1 Jennifer Wang, “Orientation Day,” in YELL-Oh Girls! Emerging Voices Explore Culture, Identity, and Growing Up Asian American, ed. Vickie Nam (New York: HarperCollins, 2001), 199–200. Reproduced by permission from HarperCollins Publishers.

Connection Questions

• What words or phrases does Jennifer Wang use to describe her identity? What words or phrases does she use to describe her attitude toward her identity?
• What does Wang mean when she says “the ‘Jennifer’ clashing with the ‘Wang,’ the ‘Wang’ fighting with the ‘Jennifer’”? What examples does she provide to support this description of her name?
• What might your name tell others about your identity? What stories about you or your family might your name reflect? What about your identity is simplified, hidden, or confused by your name?

How to Cite This Reading

Facing History & Ourselves, “ Names and Identity ”, last updated August 2, 2016.

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How to Write an Essay About My Name: Structure and Useful Tips

Updated 26 Apr 2022

This type of assignment is a short piece of writing that includes a subjective point of view of the writer. Today it is an important part of academic education, and students are taught to write an essay from the very beginning. One of the most interesting topics offered by teachers to young people is an essay about name.

A work with such topic is an interesting task, in which the annotated bibliography writer should speculate on the topic of his own name. This might be the origin it, importance from the historical point of view, you can also mention who else was called this way including some famous people like actors, scientists, inventors, models and other, it will be also nice to find the translation and its pronunciation in different languages.

The topic may seem a little too narrow. But there are numerous ways how to make my essay about name really exciting.

Common Mistakes in Writing an Essay about Name

• Incomplete sentences that start from the preposition or conjunction;
• Spelling, grammar, punctuation, and stylistic mistakes;
• Absence of a catching title;
• Plagiarized pieces;
• Use of colloquial language;
• The absence of personal viewpoint etc.

These are the most common mistakes students make writing an essay about my name. They do not wish to invent something and have found some information about their name they put the whole piece into the text. And even if there any efforts to analyze anything or express the opinion, it appears to be incomplete and with some poor mistakes.

How to Write an Essay about My Name?

There is nothing special in writing this work as it has the same structure as most of the others.

• Start your paper with a powerful introduction representing the topic and mentioning why you decided to write it.
• The main body should consist of several paragraphs (usually 3). In these paragraphs, you can indicate the reasons why your parents had decided to call you this way, tell the story of its origin, and talk about its popularity or rarity in the modern world.
• The third part of each work is a conclusion. It usually has a more personal point of view, for example, you can express your attitude to it; here you should summarize everything and accentuate your positive or negative relation to it.

Need more writing assistance?

Order you first essay about your Name and join EduBirdie club to receive discounts and updates.

Here Are a Few Useful Tips on How to Write an Essay About My Name

• Read a few different templates to get inspiration and take some useful experience.
• Before you start writing make an outline of the future paper.
• Write a thesis statement.
• Use conjunctive words and ones to develop an argument to make the text more coherent and smooth.
• Don’t avoid telling readers other people’s thoughts on your topic.
• Prefer to express your opinion using short but full of sense sentences.
• Opt for active voice for better perception.
• Put aside a ready-made text for some time to re-read it later.
• Use a plagiarism detector Ca.EduBirdie.com and spelling check software to avoid mistakes.

The list of such tips can be incredibly long. These are just a few most important points to keep in mind. These practical hints from EduBirdie experts on how to make your “my name essay” more efficient and custom can help you to create an outstanding work, so follow our reflective essay writing services if you have a similar objective.

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• Movies Explained
• How to Watch a Film

Several fragments of a comet fall through the sky. Most of them won’t collide with Earth, but one breaks off and hurtles directly towards the town of Itomori. Soon, everybody there will be vanquished. The parents, the children, the teachers, the politicians, the businessmen will all be gone.

And that includes Mitsuha Miyamizu.

During these opening moments of Your Name (Kimi no Na wa) , we don’t realize Mitsuha is going to lose her life. All we know is that Mitsuha and Taki Tachibana, despite not knowing each other and being miles away from one another, have somehow bonded over this celestial event that has captivated Japan. Together, they recite these opening lines:

“Once in a while when I wake up, I find myself crying. The dream I must have had I can never recall. But the sensation that I’ve lost something lingers for a long time after I wake up. I’m always searching for something, for someone. This feeling has possessed me I think from that day when the stars came falling. It was almost as if a scene from a dream. Nothing more, nothing less than a beautiful view.”

Immediately, Your Name opens with a cryptic, ambiguous scene—a trend that will continue throughout. Despite its charm, success, and visceral power, Your Name has a very convoluted story that’s difficult to grasp, that has left many wondering if it’s a mess of a movie that doesn’t work.

I’ve spent hours cycling through the questions people have posted about this movie, and yes indeed, there is PLENTY of crazy stuff to explain (which I’ll do) in this movie. But before I get into explaining the plot of Your Name , let’s remember that opening quote from Mitsuha and Taki and what it represents. Because understanding the movie’s intentions will help shape how we make sense of its complicated parts.

What is Your Name about?

I think it’s very easy to get wrapped up in the logic of Your Name ’s narrative. Naturally, you want to pick apart every story development and plot hole to find out if the story’s foundation is sound. If a moment steps outside the movie’s logical structure? It triggers something in your brain. You start to focus on plot details, like how the Red String of Fate functions, or how Mitsuha’s and Taki’s realities could possibly intersect when they live three years apart, or how drinking kuchikamizake connects the two.

Essentially, you could become so enraptured with what all those elements represent on a rational level that we ignore the emotional core. So while many people on the Internet have attempted to explain the coherence of the plot, I think it’s essential to also include the human elements of the story. Like, what does this movie say about you and me? About the experience of finding love?

And our key insight into what Your Name is about? That quote from the beginning of the movie. Right off the bat, we’re introduced to two people who feel a connection to someone else…but don’t know who that someone is. There’s an emptiness both Taki and Mitsuha feel. There’s something missing. They are incomplete. They are, in that quote, expressing their desire to find their better half.

To find love.

Mitsuha and Taki’s description of what they feel when those comets fall through the sky isn’t specific, or logical, or definite—it’s ambiguous, and cryptic, and enigmatic. Love isn’t something you can explain, but it’s something you feel . And Your Name treats that feeling as an ethereal one. Love is not bound by space or time, but instead by the individuals who are inextricably connected no matter where they are.

I think this is an important mindset to have heading into a plot explanation of the movie. Because while all of the confusing plot elements of Your Name can be explained, I believe they gain power and even more meaning when we can connect those explanations to Mitsuha and Taki’s desire to find love—a feeling we can all empathize with.

A quick plot summary of Your Name

Part of the confusion people have with Your Name is it’s structure. Because Mitsuha exists three years behind Taki, and because the movie randomly jumps between those time periods, the story doesn’t flow in chronological order. Many times it can feel like Your Name is purposely leaving out information to trip you up.

But I PROMISE: all of the details are there. And I think the movie’s plot can be much better understood if we lay out all of its main components in chronological order.

Below is a timeline of the movie’s event in jpg form. You can use this for a bare-bones explanation of Your Name ’s plot. I’ll also list all of this out in text form below the image if you’d rather read it that way.

The rest of the article will go into much more detail on each part of the timeline.

1. The First Comet Strikes

Hundreds of years ago, a comet struck Earth and created the lake that Itomori now rests upon.

2. Mitsuha’s Mother Passes Away

After the passing of Mitsuha and Yotsuha’s mother, their father becomes detached from them and engrossed with politics. Their grandmother takes over parenting.

3. Mitsuha Performs the Kuchikamizake Ritual

Mitsuha and Yotsuha perform a ritual and create kuchikamizake, which they offer to their god at a shrine. She wishes to be a handsome Tokyo boy.

4. Mitsuha’s Body Switch

Mitsuha randomly wakes up as Taki, who lives three years in the future. This switch continues on random days for several weeks.

5. Mitsuha Finds Taki

Mitsuha tracks Taki down in Tokyo. Before being pushed out of the train, she manages to throw her red yarn bracelet to him.

6. The Comet Strikes Again

A fragment of another passing comet strikes Itomori. Taki watches from afar, while Mitsuha is vanquished.

7. Taki’s Body Switch

Taki now randomly wakes up in Mitsuha’s body in an alternate timeline three years before she passes away.

8. Taki Learns About Itomori

Taki decides to go looking for Mitsuha. He learns that she was from Itomori, which was destroyed by the comet three years earlier.

9. Taki Visits the Shrine

Taki visits the shrine he remembers from his time in Mitsuha’s body. He drinks the kuchikamizake. He then goes back in time and wakes up in Mitsuha’s body on the day the comet is set to strike Itomori.

10. Taki Tries to Save Mitsuha

Taki enlists help from Mitsuha’s friends to get everyone out of Itomori before the comet strikes.

11. Taki and Mitsuha Meet

At “tasogare-doki”, a time of day when different worlds blur together, Taki and Mitsuha switch back to their bodies and meet at the shrine. Taki gives Mitsuha her red yarn bracelet back, severing their connection.

12. Mitsuha Saves Itomori

Mitsuha travels back to Itomori and saves almost everybody.

13. Taki and Mitsuha Forget

Because Mitsuha never passed away, she and Taki now exist in present day. But because Taki gave Mitsuha back her red yarn, they forget one another.

14. Years Pass

As the years go by, both Taki and Mitsuha can’t shake the feeling that something (or someone) is missing from their lives.

15. Taki and Mitsuha Find Each Other

Taki and Mitsuha pass by one another on the train. They feel a connection and chase after each other. Finally, they meet, and each ask for the other’s name.

A detailed plot summary of Your Name

Now we’ll go through each of those events in more detail. By thinking about the movie in chronological order—as opposed to the jumbled order we experience when watching Your Name —I think we’ll be able to find a lot of answers to a lot of questions.

Explaining what the first comet strike means

It’s important to start from the beginning—like, the very beginning . Hundreds (or maybe even thousands?) of years before Mitsuha and Taki existed, a comet struck Earth.

It could be that two different comets struck Earth at two different points in time, but I’ll assume that, based on what happens to present-day Itomori, that the first comet split into several fragments as well. One of those fragments created the lake that Itomori would one day rest upon, and the other established a crater that houses the Miyamizu Shrine.

Even though the first comet isn’t given much attention in the movie, I think it’s important to address that first comet, as I think it shares both a divine and a metaphorical connection with the future comet that will destroy Itomori.

Think of the first comet splitting into two parts as a severed connection between two people—this is a key metaphor for the love shared between Mitsuha and Taki. The bond those two comet fragments share creates an otherworldly link between the lake and the shrine, and Mitsuha and Taki must use that connection to save Itomori from the future comet.

Explaining the Miyamizu family’s spiritual abilities

Early in Mitsuha and her sister Yotsuha’s childhood, their mother Futaba passed away. We learn this later in the movie when Taki visits the shrine.

From Taki’s vision, we learn that the death of Mitsuha’s mother devastated Mitsuha’s father, Toshiki. Blaming himself for not being able to save her, he becomes detached from the Miyamizu family and its traditions. One of those traditions was visiting their god at the Miyamizu Shrine. In effect, he abandons the Miyamizu family, leaving his daughters to be cared for by their grandmother and Futaba’s mother, Hitoha.

We later learn from Hitoha that all of the women in Miyamizu family line have spiritual ties with random people (which explains the link Mitsuha shares with Taki). However, for both Hitoha and Futaba, those connections faded over time and eventually became hazy memories. Essentially, nobody has ever come as close to meeting their spiritual partner as Mitsuha came to meeting Taki.

This is interesting, because it raises the question: was Toshiki actually “the one” for Futaba? Was Toshiki the person she shared a spiritual connection with? Maybe, maybe not. Maybe the person you share a spiritual connection with doesn’t have to be your “soul mate”, but instead someone you simply share a deep bond with.

More importantly, though, this reveals the film’s underlying obsession about the consequence of abandoning tradition. In Hitoha’s mind, respecting traditions and rituals are important, even when you don’t understand them. She breeds that attitude in Mitsuha, but is unable to have Toshiki carry on with the Miyamizu customs. So even if Toshiki was Futaba’s spiritual connection, the fact that he abandons Miyamizu traditions keeps him from re-establishing his connection with her—unlike Taki, who visits the Miyamizu Shrine and retains his connection with Mitsuha even after she passes away.

I think this information about the Miyamizu family exposes a celestial link between the first comet and the second comet. The first comet created the shrine that the Miyamizu family uses to pray to their gods. And in that shrine, the Miyamizu women perform a ritual where they leave “half” of themselves to the gods by creating kuchikamizake—a rice-based alcohol that uses human saliva as a fermentation starter. That other half then connects with someone else after you perform a ceremony.

This gives the Miyamizu family’s mystical abilities an actual purpose. These spiritual connections existed for generations so that, eventually, someone would be able to alert the Miyamizus about the second incoming comet (or at least some sort of future danger). This is why Hitoha wouldn’t allow Toshiki to tear Mitsuha and Yotsuha from family traditions—Hitoha understood the importance of leaving these customs intact. Which is why Hitoha has her granddaughters perform a ceremony where they make kuchikamizake and twine a red yarn thread.

Explaining the red yarn thread and the kuchikamizake ritual

During the ceremony where Mitsuha creates kuchikamizake, she dances with a piece of red yarn.

Mitsuha’s grandmother explained the significance of the red yarn that Mitsuha was twining just before the ceremony:

“Listen to the thread’s voice. When you keep twining like that, emotions will eventually start flowing between you and the thread. One thousand years of Itomori’s history is etched into our braided cords. Two hundred years ago, sandal maker Mayugoro’s bathroom caught on fire and burned down this whole area. That shrine and old documents were destroyed, and this is known as (The Great Fire of Mayugoro). So the meaning of the festivals became unknown and only the form lived on. But even if the words are lost, tradition should be handed down. That’s the important task we at Miyamizu Shrine have.”

A couple things to take away from that quote.

First, on a plot level, this information tells us quite a bit. The Miyamizu family used to know a lot more about their abilities, but everything was destroyed by The Great Fire of Mayugoro. Which means their “knowledge” has continued to pass down through the traditions and rituals they perform. So while the Miyamizu women have continued to experience spiritual connections with other people, they’ve never known what the connections mean or how to act upon them (which is why they eventually just become “hazy memories”).

It just so happens that the second comet strike occurs during the annual festival. To me, this means that the festival was always meant to serve as a warning of the second comet. Perhaps the festival took place on the anniversary of the first comet strike? Perhaps it was always known the second comet would strike, and that knowledge was passed down from generation to generation? Who knows. All we know is that that information was likely destroyed in the Great Fire.

And second, we gain some insight into Mitsuha’s character.

Her grandma says, “When you keep twining like that, emotions will eventually start flowing between you and the thread. One thousand years of Itomori’s history is etched into our braided cords.” Mitsuha forms some sort of ethereal connection with Itomori’s history when creating that thread. She becomes one with its past and its future—she becomes one with her home. And because she’s given the red yarn thread to Taki, she’s capable of maintaining this connection with her home even when she’s dead.

Building a life with someone means inviting them into your home, into your life, and then building a new home and life with them. So when she hands that thread to Taki later in the movie, she’s not just creating a spiritual link—she’s offering half of herself to someone she shares a bond with.

Ah, young love!

Explaining the logic of Mitsuha and Taki’s body switching

While performing the kuchikamizake ceremony, Mitsuha’s classmates make fun of her. Embarrassed, Mitsuha runs away from the ceremony and screams, “Please make me a handsome Tokyo boy in my next life!”

Remember: the kuchikamizake represents “half” of Mitsuha, and the red yarn carries with it Mitsuha’s connection with Itomori. The ceremony then triggers the connection between Mitsuha and Taki. Because Taki is three years in the future when Mitsuha is dead, the body switching then becomes Mitsuha’s “next life.”

SIDE NOTE: A lot of questions have been raised about how Mitsuha never realized she was three years in the future, or how Taki never realized he was three years in the past. Of course it’s never explained in the movie, but I think there are plenty of simple explanations for why this happens:

• First and foremost, please remember: THEY ARE SWITCHING BODIES. That would make any normal person go insane…which makes me think you probably wouldn’t notice that the day you think it is (say, August 22, 2013) isn’t the day it actually is (August 22, 2016).
• To repeat a point from above: I don’t think it’s super unreasonable to never check what year it is? 2013 looks like 2016, if you ask me. I mean, how often do you see the current year printed somewhere, or have to write down the year? Maybe if you’re writing a check or something. But I don’t think it’s that crazy for neither Mitsuha or Taki—who are, once again, VERY DISTRACTED BY THE FACT THEY’RE IN ANOTHER PERSON’S BODY—to not really worry about if it’s the same year.
• One last point: what if they DID know they were three years apart? That’s never stated in the movie, but it also might not be relevant information to them. That would only be important to Taki if he knew Mitsuha was from Itomori (he didn’t), and if he knew Itomori had been destroyed by the comet (he didn’t).

SECOND SIDE NOTE: There’s also confusion about how Taki never realizes Mitsuha lives in a town called Itomori…I wish I had a good explanation for that one! Seems hard to defend. The only defense, I guess, is that body switching is a stressful event, and he had other things on his mind than checking what town he’s in?

Explaining how Taki restarts the body switching with Mitsuha

Even after the body switching ends (that’s why they both start crying when they wake up), Taki remembers Mitsuha. He can picture her face. He can sketch her hometown so well from memory that people recognize it as Itomori. Even though Mitsuha is dead, Taki’s connection with her remains—all because of that red yarn thread.

Remember: that thread carries with it Mitsuha’s connection with Itomori. So when Taki returns to where the town once stood, he knows to return to the shrine where Mitsuha left her kuchikamizake.

Also remember: Mitsuha created the kuchikamizake, but it was Taki in Mitsuha’s body that offered the kuchikamizake in the Miyamizu Shrine.

When Taki arrives at the shrine in Mitsuha’s body, Mitsuha’s grandma says:

“In exchange for returning to this world, you must leave behind what is most important to you—the kuchikamizake. You’ll offer it inside the god’s body. It’s half of you.”

So Taki isn’t leaving behind half of himself, but the half of Mitsuha that Mitsuha had created with the kuchikamizake. This is what severs his body switching days with Mitsuha.

But back in the future where Mitsuha is dead, Taki is in his own body when he visits the shrine and drinks the kuchikamizake. This re-establishes the body switching and allows Taki—who then inhabits Mitsuha’s body the day of the comet strike—to save Itomori.

I believe this to be a poignant commentary on love. Even when someone is gone…they’re never truly gone from your life. You remember how they move, how they talk, how they act. And I think that Taki’s passion for finding someone he shared such an intense bond with represents how that kind of love can transcend time and space.

Explaining how tasogare-doki allows Mitsuha and Taki to finally meet

The climactic moment of Your Name is when Taki and Mitsuha finally meet. You might wonder how their bodies are suddenly able to transcend time and space to meet in the same spot, but this meeting was actually set up much earlier in the movie.

The first day after the body switching, Mitsuha wakes up in her body with no recollection of the previous day. Everybody keeps talking about how strange she was acting. And while she’s trying to piece everything together, she looks down in her notebook and reads a message from Taki: “Who are you?”

In a movie called Your Name …I mean, c’mon. This is an important moment, right? It’s the first instance of Taki and Mitsuha trying to figure out who the other is. The question isn’t necessarily “What is your name?” but instead “Why have I formed this strange connection with you?”

It just so happens that while Mitsuha is reading this message from Taki, her teacher is explaining the meaning of “tasogare-doki”.

“‘Tasokare’ means ‘who is that’ and is the origin of the word ‘tasogare-doki’. Twilight, when it’s neither day nor night. When the world blurs and one might encounter something not human.”

She then has an interaction with a student that you may not have caught, or may not have thought much of—but it’s important:

Teacher: “Old expressions include ‘karetaso-doki’. Karetaso/Kawatare = Who is that and ‘karetaso-doki.’”

Student: “Question! Why not ‘kataware-doki’?”

Teacher: “Kataware-doki? I think that’s a local dialect. I’ve heard that Itomori’s elderly still use classical language. We’re in the boonies, after all.”

When Taki and Mitsuha finally meet, their bodies travel through time to finally converge in the same time and space. This occurs at twilight (aka tasogare-doki) when their worlds blur together. Even though they’re three years apart, the connection between the first comet and the second comet that destroyed Itomori has allowed for two different timelines to merge—the world with Itomori, and the world without Itomori.

And that interaction the teacher shared with the student shows that tasogare-doki has carried different translations with it throughout time. The old expression, kataware-doki, is a “classical” language, meaning it was a term used often by elderly members of the community.

So why would the term kataware-doki be so prevalent at one time? Remember: that term is a local dialect. And it was substituted for tasogare-doki, indicating it had a similar meaning: a combination of “who is that” and the time of day when worlds blur together. At one time, the idea of different timelines merging was so important to the people of Itomori that they created their own word for it .

But, again, everyone has forgotten about the term kataware-doki. I think this, once again, exposes the film’s underlying message about the importance of tradition. This is why Toshiki was never able to retain his connection with Futaba after she passed away like Taki was able to retain his connection with Mitsuha—Toshiki rejected tradition, while Taki embraced it. Toshiki refused to visit the shrine and carry the Miyamizu tradition, while Taki decided to visit the shrine and re-establish his spiritual link with Mitsuha.

The abandonment of the word “kataware-doki” is symbolic of the history of Itomori being abandoned, only leaving behind elderly’s grasp on tradition. Taki and Mitsuha’s embracement of tradition allows them to retain their connection, regardless of time or space.

With all that in mind, I think that because the documents contained in the Miyamizu Shrine were destroyed by The Great Fire of Mayugoro, the knowledge of the phrase went with it. That term lived on as long as it could through the generations, but now only the elderly even remember the term.

I assume the word was created because the Miyamizus once understood the importance of the spiritual connections they shared with others. They knew that the land where the first comets struck was sacred, so they built a shrine there and housed all of their documented beliefs there as well.

Remember my theory about the first comet? That it shares both a divine and a metaphorical connection with the future comet that will destroy Itomori. Just like Taki and Mitsuha, the past and future comets that will strike Itomori are bound together, regardless of space or time. Just like there is a link between the lake and the shrine, there is an unbreakable bond shared between two young people in love.

This gets at the title of the movie, and highlights the importance of the classroom scene when Mitsuha sees the message from Taki. The movie is not about two people finding out each other’s names—it’s about truly understanding someone else. When Taki writes his “name” in Mitsuha’s hand, he doesn’t actually write his name—he writes “I love you.”

Love is hard work and requires two people to invest in one another. So even when Taki gives Mitsuha back her red yarn thread and their memory of one another is severed…they never really forget one another, right? They have this feeling that the other is still out there. And at the end of the movie when they pass by each other on the train, they know something is there and chase after each other.

So in that final shot of the movie, when Mitsuha and Taki ask for each other’s name, what they’re really doing is starting their life together. It takes a lot of courage to invite someone into your life like that, and you only do it when you feel something special with that person.

In effect, the entire movie becomes a defamiliarization of finding your true soulmate. You never know the name of the person you’ll end up with—but you know the person , right? You know the kind of person that will make you happy, that will become your other half, that will complete you. All you need is the courage to finally invite them in when you find them.

Japan and natural disaster

Japan has an unfortunate relationship with natural disaster. Volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, tsunamis, mudslides, etc. The Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami of 2011 took 19,749 lives and caused a nuclear power plant to have a level-7 meltdown. As of 2024, in all the world, that’s the 6th highest death toll from a natural disaster (8th if you count heat waves).

Put that in perspective relative to the America where the two biggest natural disasters of the 21st century were Hurricane Maria in 2017 (3,000 deceased) and Hurricane Katrina in 2005 (1,836 deceased).

Part of what makes Your Name so special is that it allows us to imagine a world where love triumphs over tragedy. A world where all those stolen hopes, dreams, and potentials can be reclaimed and actually lived. Where your soulmate wasn’t, unbeknownst to you, lost forever. It offers a degree of comfort and solace to those who did and will lose loved ones to disaster. Which is, honestly, quite a beautiful thing.

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What’s In A Name Essay | Short and Long Essay on What’s In A Name for Students and Children

October 1, 2021 by Prasanna

What’s In A Name Essay: Names are the identity of a person or object that distinguishes one from another. But human beings put a lot of importance on the power of naming. In childhood, a name is given to someone based on affection, relation, or family background. As a person grows up, a name becomes an identity for him/her and is associated with personal attributes and characteristics.

When a person stands out from others by virtue of his qualities or contribution, his name becomes iconic and synonymous with the character and personality of that person. It suggests that the name not only carries the identity of a person, but also the power and worth associated with it. There are instances in history where the parental name of a person is overshadowed by another popular name that people around him love to use to address him. For example, A classic example of what’s in a name is Netaji is a name that symbolizes courage and leadership, although his actual name is rarely used.

You can also find more  Essay Writing  articles on events, persons, sports, technology and many more.

A name as given by the parents or family members has a connection with place, family, culture, and traditions. Starting from childhood to adulthood, a person grows through his name. A name is as familiar and as close to us as anything else. In fact, we become more concerned with our name than the person that it identifies. Many believe that what’s in a name is not as important as personality or character, but after all, it’s the name that shapes one’s destiny. Name is considered a powerful tool in shaping one’s personality and self-esteem considering the meanings we associate with a name. But many times an individual demonstrates totally different characteristics than his name actually signifies. The name of that person then carries an identity based on the perception of others around him but not the name itself.

Long Essay on What’s In A Name 700 Words in English

Naming an individual

A name is the first thing that we own after our birth. It is a word that identifies us, remains with us from childhood till death, and is closely knit to our personalities. When a child is born, the parents give him/her a name as per their wish. The name could be in accordance with their cultural practices, customs, events, relatives, birthplace, etc. Some people also like to name their children after some renowned people, who are admired in the society or have some adorable characteristics that the parents may want their children to follow. Every name has some sense of power or value associated with it. Many believe that names have some influences in building the personalities of an individual.

Names as Identity

Names are considered to be an incredibly important part of our identity. They often carry deep personal, cultural, and traditional connections. They also give us a sense of our belonging to the community and the environment. Since childhood, we become so familiar with our name that we develop a very close association with it. Our names become a nice-labeled sound that appeals to us when someone calls us. Some of us grow with our names, maybe we like the way they are used by our loved ones.

Many of us think about what’s in a name and take our name for granted in the sense that we rarely pay attention to the name – what it means, why we have it, how it is to be regarded or valued. It’s also important to consider the meanings associated with names, which are given by our near and dear ones. These are the products of heritage, upbringing, and culture that we are imbibing. In fact, identity not only hinges on a name but also the importance that we place on a name.

Names always play a crucial role in people’s lives. For some, it is like what’s in a name with no deeper sense or meaning. But most of us like to have names that are unique in some way or others. It’s an identity that distinguishes one from the other. Earlier, it was a tradition to give names matching with siblings which were one form of identification that relates one family member with others. With times, this practice has changed especially due to the small family structure. Now the meaning, as well as uniqueness, is given priority while naming a child.

In the world around us, everything that is in existence has a name attached to it be it humans, plants, animals, or objects. Such names help to bring to memory the thing in question when referred by its name. Every name has some sense of perception or significance associated with it. When a child is born, he/she is given an identity through a name, which helps to differentiate one from others. But as the child grows up, this identity includes features like self-esteem and self-awareness that build his personality and character.

The Power of a Name

The origin of this phrase ‘What’s in a Name’ has actually been derived from the famous romantic tragedy “Romeo and Juliet” written by William Shakespeare. The female protagonist in this play says “What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet”. The quotation really has a very profound meaning. It signifies that a name we put on something is simply a label to differentiate one from another. But the identity lies in the unique characteristics that anyone or anything possesses. In a deep sense what creates the true meaning and power of a name is the worth of the individual or thing as reflected in the outer world.

FAQ’s on What’s In A Name Essay

Question 1. What is the origin of the phrase ‘What’s in a name?

Answer: The origin of the phrase ‘what’s in a name’ comes from William Shakespeare’s romantic tragedy ‘Romeo and Juliet’.

Question 2. What are the factors influencing the naming of a person in childhood?

Answer: Names given to an individual depend on factors like family, culture, customs, heritage as well as the place of birth.

Question 3. How much importance is given to the meaning of a name given to a child?

Answer: The parents name a child as per their wish. The meanings of the name they choose reflect their cultural & religious beliefs, preference towards any object, person, or event.

Question 4. Why are children named according to some renowned person?

Answer: Parents choose to name a child according to a person who is admired and respected for his character and actions and expects their child to adopt the same in future life.

Question 5. How does a name associate with one’s personality or characteristics?

Answer: We identify a person or object by its name but in the actual sense, we relate the unique features and remarkable qualities in them with their name.

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What is Your Name Story?

Engaging with students’ names at the beginning of the year helps them critically think about language and naming, as well as consider concepts around naming related to meaning, culture, power, and identity. This lesson further helps English teachers address values around diversity, equity, and inclusion.

• Ask students to watch this 2011 advertisement for Coke . In pairs discuss: What might be some reasons why this Coke campaign was so successful?
• Then, watch this 2013 adaptation of the campaign from China . Ask students: How is this campaign different?  What might be some reasons why Coke may have changed their approach for a Chinese audience?
• Write your first/given name on the piece of paper or slide given to you. This can be your full name or your nick name.
• Who named you?  Why were you given this name?
• What does your name mean?  Where does it come from? Does this meaning and context represent your identity?  Why/why not?
• What is your experience with your name? 
• Do you like/dislike your name?
• Select or create icons and images that are related to your name story. 
• Share your name story in small groups.
• Have students read this article from The Atlantic entitled, “ Who Wins in the Name Game ”?
• Why is the language of names important?
• What assumptions do we make about people based on their name?
• What assumptions might people make about you based on your name?
• What relationships can you see between power and names?
• In pairs, students discuss the question: Should we be made to use our “real” names online and in other contexts?
• Then, have students read this article: “ Why Facebook and Google’s Concept of ‘Real Names’ Is Revolutionary ”
• Choose a sentence from the article that supports this assertion.
• To what extent do you agree with the article’s argument?
• To what extent do you disagree with the article’s argument?
• What issues exist because people are allowed to use pseudonyms online that are not addressed in this article?
• Where do you stand on this issue?
• In their portfolios, students write a reflection responding to the following question: What new understandings and ideas did you encounter today through our discussion of names?

Note: This lesson could easily be cut down to do only one or two of these activities. As planned, this lesson would take approximately 80 minutes.

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-warnings-from-democrats-about-project-2025-and-donald-trump

Fact-checking warnings from Democrats about Project 2025 and Donald Trump

This fact check originally appeared on PolitiFact .

Project 2025 has a starring role in this week’s Democratic National Convention.

And it was front and center on Night 1.

WATCH: Hauling large copy of Project 2025, Michigan state Sen. McMorrow speaks at 2024 DNC

“This is Project 2025,” Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, said as she laid a hardbound copy of the 900-page document on the lectern. “Over the next four nights, you are going to hear a lot about what is in this 900-page document. Why? Because this is the Republican blueprint for a second Trump term.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has warned Americans about “Trump’s Project 2025” agenda — even though former President Donald Trump doesn’t claim the conservative presidential transition document.

“Donald Trump wants to take our country backward,” Harris said July 23 in Milwaukee. “He and his extreme Project 2025 agenda will weaken the middle class. Like, we know we got to take this seriously, and can you believe they put that thing in writing?”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, has joined in on the talking point.

“Don’t believe (Trump) when he’s playing dumb about this Project 2025. He knows exactly what it’ll do,” Walz said Aug. 9 in Glendale, Arizona.

Trump’s campaign has worked to build distance from the project, which the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, led with contributions from dozens of conservative groups.

Much of the plan calls for extensive executive-branch overhauls and draws on both long-standing conservative principles, such as tax cuts, and more recent culture war issues. It lays out recommendations for disbanding the Commerce and Education departments, eliminating certain climate protections and consolidating more power to the president.

Project 2025 offers a sweeping vision for a Republican-led executive branch, and some of its policies mirror Trump’s 2024 agenda, But Harris and her presidential campaign have at times gone too far in describing what the project calls for and how closely the plans overlap with Trump’s campaign.

PolitiFact researched Harris’ warnings about how the plan would affect reproductive rights, federal entitlement programs and education, just as we did for President Joe Biden’s Project 2025 rhetoric. Here’s what the project does and doesn’t call for, and how it squares with Trump’s positions.

Are Trump and Project 2025 connected?

To distance himself from Project 2025 amid the Democratic attacks, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he “knows nothing” about it and has “no idea” who is in charge of it. (CNN identified at least 140 former advisers from the Trump administration who have been involved.)

The Heritage Foundation sought contributions from more than 100 conservative organizations for its policy vision for the next Republican presidency, which was published in 2023.

Project 2025 is now winding down some of its policy operations, and director Paul Dans, a former Trump administration official, is stepping down, The Washington Post reported July 30. Trump campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita denounced the document.

WATCH: A look at the Project 2025 plan to reshape government and Trump’s links to its authors

However, Project 2025 contributors include a number of high-ranking officials from Trump’s first administration, including former White House adviser Peter Navarro and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.

A recently released recording of Russell Vought, a Project 2025 author and the former director of Trump’s Office of Management and Budget, showed Vought saying Trump’s “very supportive of what we do.” He said Trump was only distancing himself because Democrats were making a bogeyman out of the document.

Project 2025 wouldn’t ban abortion outright, but would curtail access

The Harris campaign shared a graphic on X that claimed “Trump’s Project 2025 plan for workers” would “go after birth control and ban abortion nationwide.”

The plan doesn’t call to ban abortion nationwide, though its recommendations could curtail some contraceptives and limit abortion access.

What’s known about Trump’s abortion agenda neither lines up with Harris’ description nor Project 2025’s wish list.

Project 2025 says the Department of Health and Human Services Department should “return to being known as the Department of Life by explicitly rejecting the notion that abortion is health care.”

It recommends that the Food and Drug Administration reverse its 2000 approval of mifepristone, the first pill taken in a two-drug regimen for a medication abortion. Medication is the most common form of abortion in the U.S. — accounting for around 63 percent in 2023.

If mifepristone were to remain approved, Project 2025 recommends new rules, such as cutting its use from 10 weeks into pregnancy to seven. It would have to be provided to patients in person — part of the group’s efforts to limit access to the drug by mail. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a legal challenge to mifepristone’s FDA approval over procedural grounds.

WATCH: Trump’s plans for health care and reproductive rights if he returns to White House The manual also calls for the Justice Department to enforce the 1873 Comstock Act on mifepristone, which bans the mailing of “obscene” materials. Abortion access supporters fear that a strict interpretation of the law could go further to ban mailing the materials used in procedural abortions, such as surgical instruments and equipment.

The plan proposes withholding federal money from states that don’t report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention how many abortions take place within their borders. The plan also would prohibit abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid funds. It also calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that the training of medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, omits abortion training.

The document says some forms of emergency contraception — particularly Ella, a pill that can be taken within five days of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy — should be excluded from no-cost coverage. The Affordable Care Act requires most private health insurers to cover recommended preventive services, which involves a range of birth control methods, including emergency contraception.

Trump has recently said states should decide abortion regulations and that he wouldn’t block access to contraceptives. Trump said during his June 27 debate with Biden that he wouldn’t ban mifepristone after the Supreme Court “approved” it. But the court rejected the lawsuit based on standing, not the case’s merits. He has not weighed in on the Comstock Act or said whether he supports it being used to block abortion medication, or other kinds of abortions.

Project 2025 doesn’t call for cutting Social Security, but proposes some changes to Medicare

“When you read (Project 2025),” Harris told a crowd July 23 in Wisconsin, “you will see, Donald Trump intends to cut Social Security and Medicare.”

The Project 2025 document does not call for Social Security cuts. None of its 10 references to Social Security addresses plans for cutting the program.

Harris also misleads about Trump’s Social Security views.

In his earlier campaigns and before he was a politician, Trump said about a half-dozen times that he’s open to major overhauls of Social Security, including cuts and privatization. More recently, in a March 2024 CNBC interview, Trump said of entitlement programs such as Social Security, “There’s a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting.” However, he quickly walked that statement back, and his CNBC comment stands at odds with essentially everything else Trump has said during the 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump’s campaign website says that not “a single penny” should be cut from Social Security. We rated Harris’ claim that Trump intends to cut Social Security Mostly False.

Project 2025 does propose changes to Medicare, including making Medicare Advantage, the private insurance offering in Medicare, the “default” enrollment option. Unlike Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans have provider networks and can also require prior authorization, meaning that the plan can approve or deny certain services. Original Medicare plans don’t have prior authorization requirements.

The manual also calls for repealing health policies enacted under Biden, such as the Inflation Reduction Act. The law enabled Medicare to negotiate with drugmakers for the first time in history, and recently resulted in an agreement with drug companies to lower the prices of 10 expensive prescriptions for Medicare enrollees.

Trump, however, has said repeatedly during the 2024 presidential campaign that he will not cut Medicare.

Project 2025 would eliminate the Education Department, which Trump supports

The Harris campaign said Project 2025 would “eliminate the U.S. Department of Education” — and that’s accurate. Project 2025 says federal education policy “should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated.” The plan scales back the federal government’s role in education policy and devolves the functions that remain to other agencies.

Aside from eliminating the department, the project also proposes scrapping the Biden administration’s Title IX revision, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It also would let states opt out of federal education programs and calls for passing a federal parents’ bill of rights similar to ones passed in some Republican-led state legislatures.

Republicans, including Trump, have pledged to close the department, which gained its status in 1979 within Democratic President Jimmy Carter’s presidential Cabinet.

In one of his Agenda 47 policy videos, Trump promised to close the department and “to send all education work and needs back to the states.” Eliminating the department would have to go through Congress.

What Project 2025, Trump would do on overtime pay

In the graphic, the Harris campaign says Project 2025 allows “employers to stop paying workers for overtime work.”

The plan doesn’t call for banning overtime wages. It recommends changes to some Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, regulations and to overtime rules. Some changes, if enacted, could result in some people losing overtime protections, experts told us.

The document proposes that the Labor Department maintain an overtime threshold “that does not punish businesses in lower-cost regions (e.g., the southeast United States).” This threshold is the amount of money executive, administrative or professional employees need to make for an employer to exempt them from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

In 2019, the Trump’s administration finalized a rule that expanded overtime pay eligibility to most salaried workers earning less than about $35,568, which it said made about 1.3 million more workers eligible for overtime pay. The Trump-era threshold is high enough to cover most line workers in lower-cost regions, Project 2025 said.

The Biden administration raised that threshold to $43,888 beginning July 1, and that will rise to $58,656 on Jan. 1, 2025. That would grant overtime eligibility to about 4 million workers, the Labor Department said.

It’s unclear how many workers Project 2025’s proposal to return to the Trump-era overtime threshold in some parts of the country would affect, but experts said some would presumably lose the right to overtime wages.

Other overtime proposals in Project 2025’s plan include allowing some workers to choose to accumulate paid time off instead of overtime pay, or to work more hours in one week and fewer in the next, rather than receive overtime.

Trump’s past with overtime pay is complicated. In 2016, the Obama administration said it would raise the overtime to salaried workers earning less than $47,476 a year, about double the exemption level set in 2004 of $23,660 a year.

But when a judge blocked the Obama rule, the Trump administration didn’t challenge the court ruling. Instead it set its own overtime threshold, which raised the amount, but by less than Obama.

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Last Will and Testament Guide for 2024

Key takeaways.

• A last will and testament is a legal document that states how a person wishes to distribute their assets upon their death.
• Although requirements vary by state, usually your will needs to be in writing, signed by the testator, and witnessed by at least two other people.
• If you die without a will, your state’s laws will dictate how to distribute your assets, and your estate may have to pay a death tax.
• Using an attorney to draft your will can end up costing more than $1,000. If you’re looking for a more affordable option, will creation services are available online. Trust & Will starts at $199.

One of the most important estate planning tools is a last will and testament, often referred to as a “will.” In a will, you state where your assets should go when you die and, sometimes more importantly, where they shouldn’t go. Whether you choose to leave your assets to your loved ones or support your favorite cause, you should have a will.

In this article, we’ll explain what a last will and testament is, the benefits of having one, the different types of wills you can create, and how to create one. We’ll also give you a list of helpful estate planning terms and address frequently asked questions about beginning the estate planning process.

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What is a last will and testament?

A last will and testament is a legal document that allows a person to plan how to distribute their assets after they die.

When someone dies, their assets usually go toward funeral expenses and probate court fees. Then, if the person has any outstanding debts, the executor uses assets from the estate to settle them.

What happens to the rest of someone’s property after that? This is where a last will and testament can be helpful. It will give your loved ones guidance on what to do with your remaining assets.

Benefits of creating a last will and testament

April M. Townsend , Esq., is an estate planning attorney based in Pennsylvania with more than 12 years of experience. Townsend said that, “creating an estate plan, including a will, offers significant advantages and peace of mind. By taking these steps, you gain control over how your property is divided after [you die], ensuring your wishes are followed.”

Having a last will and testament in place for when the time comes makes this process easier and less expensive. Your will tells the court exactly what to do with your belongings, so there’s less for the court to sort through. Less work for the court means your assets will be distributed quicker, and you’ll pay less in administrative and probate costs.

Without a will, all your belongings would be distributed according to your state’s “intestacy” laws. Intestacy refers to dying intestate, or without a will. The biggest problem with intestacy is that state laws won’t take into account your preferences on how you want your assets distributed. Close family members and estranged family members can potentially have access to the same amount of your estate.

For example, in New Jersey, if you die without a will, your spouse is entitled to your entire estate —even if you were separated but not yet divorced. [1] Mercer County. Administration of Estate (No Will). Found on the internet at https://www.mercercounty.org/government/county-surrogate/administration-of-estate-no-will. That means if you want to leave something behind for your children, siblings, or parents, they won’t get anything unless you have a will that provides for them.

Helpful hint: Intestacy laws don’t provide a means for you to appoint a legal guardian for dependents. If you’re a caregiver for any minor children or pets, you’ll need a will to arrange their support. Otherwise, the court will appoint a guardian for those who need one, without considering your preferences.

Types of wills

You can choose from five main types of wills when creating your own:

• Simple will: A straightforward will lists your assets and beneficiaries. You can easily create your own simple will online.
• Living will : This is different from a simple will in that it doesn’t deal with your assets or how the court will distribute them upon your death. Instead, a living will gives instructions for your medical care and other end-of-life decisions, such as whether you want medical staff to use life-extending measures.
• Joint will: This is a will that used to be common among spouses where both parties agree to grant all their assets to the surviving spouse. With a joint will, once one spouse dies, the surviving spouse can’t change the terms of their will. This restriction makes joint wills less popular—there are other options that provide more freedom for the surviving spouse.
• Testamentary trust: This is a will that creates a trust that won’t take effect until after your death. A testamentary trust is commonly used to provide support for minor children over a long period of time.
• Holographic will: This type of will is only recognized in 28 states . [2] Trust & Will. What is a Holographic Will (& Why It’s Not the Best Choice). Found on the internet at https://trustandwill.com/learn/holographic-will It must be handwritten and signed by the testator —it can’t be typed or written by someone else. [3] Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. Holographic will. Found on the internet at https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/Holographic_will Since the handwriting in the will matches the handwriting in the signature, most states that recognize these types of wills don’t require additional signatures from witnesses. This raises a potential for mistake or fraud, so they’re commonly contested in probate court.

How to create a last will and testament in six steps

With all the free resources available online, most people won’t need estate planning attorneys to craft a will for them. Creating your own will is a relatively straightforward process that can save you time and money.

Since state law governs wills, each state has its own requirements to create a will. Still, most of these state requirements boil down to three conditions: Your will must be in writing, signed by the testator, and witnessed by at least two people. We’ll explain how to satisfy these minimum requirements and create the best will for your estate planning needs.

Step 1: Make detailed property records

Since your will contains a plan for how you want to distribute your assets, you’ll need to make a list of all the property you own. When compiling these property records, consider the following:

• Land or real estate
• Business stocks or bonds
• Cash in bank accounts
• Valuable personal property, like jewelry, vehicles, or art

If you’re worried about forgetting to list some of your assets, you can include a residuary clause ⓘ A residuary clause identifies a person or institution that receives any assets that aren’t accounted for in your will. This is important to have if you don’t want state law to distribute any remaining assets. in your will. A residuary clause works as a catchall for the rest of your property, so the executor ⓘ An executor, also known as a personal representative, is the individual responsible for carrying out the instructions left in someone’s will. knows what to do with any belongings you didn’t specifically name in your will.

Another thing to keep in mind is some assets may already have designated beneficiaries, like life insurance policies or qualified retirement plans.

Helpful hint: When listing all your assets, don’t forget to include any debts you might have (for example, unpaid taxes, credit cards, student loans, or mortgages). Usually, if a debt is unpaid at death, the estate is responsible for paying it. This will give you a better idea of how much of your estate you’re leaving for your beneficiaries.

Step 2: Name an executor

An executor, or personal representative, is someone legally obligated to administer a person’s estate. In other words, an executor is the person responsible for following the instructions you left in your will.

To be an executor, you have to be at least 18 years old and of sound mind . You may need to have additional qualifications depending on your state’s rules. [4] Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. Holographic will. Found on the internet at https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/Holographic_will

When naming your executor, try to choose someone you’re close with, so they truly understand your intentions during the probate process. You should also consider naming someone healthy who will likely live long enough to take on this role. It’s a good idea to name a “successor executor,” or a backup executor, in case your first choice is unavailable. Being an executor is a lot of responsibility, so make sure you choose someone who is able to address estate matters quickly and efficiently.

Step 3: Add beneficiaries and designate property

A beneficiary is a person designated to receive something from an estate or trust. Simply put, a beneficiary is any person you’re leaving property to in your will. You can name any person or institution (such as a charity) to be a beneficiary in your will. Once you’ve named your beneficiaries, you’ll have to decide what property they should receive.

A general bequest is when you want to leave behind some money from your estate to a beneficiary. For example, if you want to make sure your child is well-supported after you’re gone, you can make a general bequest that designates a certain amount of money from your estate to go directly to that child.

A specific bequest is when you want to leave behind a particular piece of your property to a beneficiary. For example, if you want to leave your stamp collection to your nephew who collects stamps, you can make a specific bequest.

Another useful type of bequest is called a contingent bequest. This allows you to put conditions on whether a beneficiary receives property from your will. For example, if you want to encourage your grandchild to go to college, you can make a bequest to your grandchild on the condition they go to college. If your grandchild doesn’t attend college, they won’t receive that bequest, and it will return to your estate.

Step 4: Formalize your will on paper

All states require you to put your will on paper. This memorializes your intentions, so your executor can refer back to it during the probate process.

Online templates can help you format the document correctly, or you can use an online will maker service that will generate the correct document for you.

Helpful hint: Some people like to include letters for their loved ones with their will. The executor will deliver these letters of love and support upon your death. It’s a thoughtful way to say your final goodbyes and give your loved ones closure.

Step 5: Sign the document

Once you’re happy with your will, you have to sign the document to make it official.

At least two people must witness you sign the document. After they see you sign your will, they’ll have to place their signatures on the will to prove its authenticity. Only two states slightly modify this requirement:

• Louisiana requires a notary to sign your will in addition to the two witnesses.
• Colorado allows you to have your will witnessed by only one person if the person is a notary.

Helpful hint: Regardless of requirements, getting your will notarized helps to ensure your will holds up in court. You can find a notary at your bank or some FedEx or UPS locations, or you can hire a mobile notary to come to you.

Step 6: Maintain and update the document as needed

While you can keep your last will and testament in a safe place at home, you need to make sure these estate planning documents outlast you. We recommend taking extra precautions, such as using a fireproof lockbox (like this one for $30) or a safe deposit box at the bank.

Some states allow you to file your will with the probate court to ensure the document is safe and available when needed. If you do this, only you, your attorney, and your executor will be able to access the will during your lifetime. But once you die and your case goes through probate, your will becomes publicly available information. If this raises privacy concerns for you, keep in mind that all probate court matters become public record once they’re closed—even if you don’t have a will.

You don’t need to wait for an important life event to create or update a will. Townsend advised that you should “think of your estate plan as a living document. Give it a regular check-up every three to five years, or whenever life’s chapters change.” She added that some examples of changes are:

• Marriage or divorce
• The birth of a child or grandchild
• Financial changes
• Evolving legal requirements in your state

You can use something called a codicil ⓘ A codicil is an amendment to a will. It allows you to add, subtract, or modify something in your will, without having to create a brand new one. to make changes to your will down the line if you ever need to. A codicil can be used to supplement, modify, or even revoke a will.

All you need to do is write down what you want to change about your will, sign it, have at least two witnesses sign it, and keep it with your original will. After your death, the executor will read and interpret both documents together.

Estate planning terms to know

As you learn about what a last will and testament is, it may be helpful to know what certain legal terms mean.

• The testator is the person who created the will.
• Beneficiaries are individuals or institutions that receive something from the execution of a will. In other words, beneficiaries stand to benefit from the will.
• Adding a codicil to a will updates the will by adding a document at the end rather than rewriting a portion of the will. A codicil can explain, modify, or revoke part of a will.
• A decedent is the term used in estate planning for a person who has died.
• An executor, or personal representative, is the individual responsible for “executing the will,” or facilitating the probate process.
• An estate is anything a person owns at the time of their death. This can include real estate and personal property, like jewelry, vehicles, and other items of value.
• Power of attorney means you’ve given authority to another person to make legal and financial decisions for you if you’re unable to do so.
• A residuary clause identifies a person or institution that receives any assets not accounted for in your will. This is important to have if you don’t want state law to distribute any remaining assets.
• Attach a self-proving affidavit to a will to “prove” to the court the will is valid. Executors must sometimes go through a hearing—potentially requiring witnesses—to prove to the court the will belongs to the testator and is valid. A self-proving affidavit does this automatically, but it’s not an option in every state. Some states consider a valid will to be self-proving, so an additional affidavit isn’t necessary.

Bottom line

For many people, the most important document in their estate plan is their last will and testament. This document will give you a say in how an executor should handle your assets upon your death. Without a will, your estate will be subject to state-created intestacy laws, which don’t take into account your preferences. You also won’t be able to make specific arrangements for your spouse, children, pets, or anyone else you care for without a will.

To create a valid will, you’ll have to memorialize your final wishes by putting it on paper. You can do this by using an attorney, an online will creation service, or following templates you find online. An attorney is the most thorough option, but it’s also the most expensive. Following templates online is usually free, but there’s the risk of filling out the templates incorrectly. An online will maker service is a middle-ground that will result in a legally binding document at a lower cost than hiring an attorney. Read our guide to learn how to make a will without a lawyer .

You and at least two other people must sign it to make it a valid will. Your signature will show you intend this document to be your last will and testament. The two other people must sign the document as witnesses to authenticate your signature. Keep your will in a safe place, so your executor can find it when they need to start distributing your assets. You should also make copies of the document and give them to your executor and anyone else you think should have one.

Additional estate planning resources

Learning about estate planning tools, like the power of attorney, can be intimidating, but it’s an important part of safeguarding your affairs. For more resources on how to begin preparing for your future, check out NCOA’s AgeWell Planner . If you’re taking care of a loved one, read our advice about managing someone else’s legal, financial, and medical decisions. And be aware of estate recovery , how it works, and how it can affect you or a loved one.

Plenty of resources offer affordable legal aid . Also, nonprofit organizations, such as the Veterans Legal Institute , will provide pro bono legal assistance to current and former service members.

Frequently asked questions

In general, a legal will is written, signed, and witnessed, though each state can have its own specific requirements.

“In writing” means the will isn’t verbal. The paper makes it formal. The testator, or person making the will, must also sign the will. This shows approval of the asset distribution plan and certifies this is the last will and testament. Finally, you must have at least two witnesses when you sign the will. These witnesses attest, or confirm, the testator was of sound mind when they were creating their will and the testator’s signature is their own. The witnesses must then sign the will to make it valid. Witnesses can’t be beneficiaries.

The most simple definition of a last will and testament is a legal document that records how a person wants to distribute their assets upon their death.

In estate planning and probate law, the ultimate goal is to mirror the testator’s intentions and dispose of their assets in the manner they desire. Your last will and testament formalizes these intentions on paper, so the executor can follow them as closely as possible when the time comes.

If you’re drafting your will on your own, you can create one for free or use an online will making service, which usually costs around $40–$300.

If you’re hiring a lawyer to draft your will, you can expect to pay, on average, anywhere from $300–$1,000. This cost depends on the complexity of your estate.

No, you don’t need an attorney to create a last will and testament. You can create your last will and testament by using online resources.

You can distribute your assets through many different ways while minimizing your risk and tax liability. If you have a complex estate plan, a lot of valuable assets, or just want to ensure your will is completely correct, you can hire an estate planning attorney.

Yes, you can create your last will and testament online.

You can either find will templates online and create one yourself, or you can have an online service make your will for you. Some services will even connect you with an estate planning attorney and offer continued support in case you need to update your will down the line. We have tested and reviewed these online will creation services, so you can choose the best one for your needs

Your last will is a way for you to decide what happens to your assets after you die. A living will, also known as a health care directive, is a statement of your wishes regarding medical treatment in circumstances where you’re no longer able to make decisions or communicate effectively. A living trust holds your assets until a predetermined time and provides instructions for management and distribution.

Unlike a living will, your last will doesn’t express what medical treatment you want to pursue if you’re ever incapacitated—unless you included a medical power of attorney in your will. It’s also unable to hold assets for you, unlike a living trust.

Typically, you should avoid including property that you’ve already assigned to someone, like:

• Life insurance or annuity proceeds
• Retirement plan proceeds
• Transfer-on-death property
• Property held in living trust
• Property held with a right of survivorship

The most common example is life insurance proceeds. When you get a life insurance policy, you have to designate a beneficiary to receive the policy payout. By including the proceeds in your will, you can create a situation where you’ve designated two different people to receive the same property. This usually leads to the two beneficiaries going to probate court. Even if you name the same beneficiary in both documents, you’ll have to make sure both documents match if you ever want to make any changes in the future.

Have questions about this review? Email us at [email protected] .

• Mercer County. Administration of Estate (No Will). Found on the internet at https://www.mercercounty.org/government/county-surrogate/administration-of-estate-no-will .
• Trust & Will. What is a Holographic Will (& Why It’s Not the Best Choice). Found on the internet at https://trustandwill.com/learn/holographic-will
• Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute. Holographic will. Found on the internet at https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/Holographic_will
• North Carolina Administrative Office of the Courts. Estate Procedures for Executors, Administrators,Collectors By Affidavit, and Summary Administration. Found on the internet at https://www.nccourts.gov/assets/documents/forms/e850-en.pdf?VersionId=wAfy5o3sqw7oCN0qFSPp5N1aWnKA7nNK

Home — Essay Samples — Life — About My Name — Uniqueness and Significance of My Name in My Life

Uniqueness and Significance of My Name in My Life

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A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern. A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern. A high-powered CEO puts her career and family on the line when she begins a torrid affair with her much younger intern.

• Halina Reijn
• Nicole Kidman
• Harris Dickinson
• Antonio Banderas
• 1 nomination

Top cast 39

• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

2024 Venice Film Festival Guide

• December 20, 2024 (United States)
• United States
• Netherlands
• New York City, New York, USA (street scenes)
• Man Up Film
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 54 minutes

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