What's in the middle

  What's in a Name? Understanding My Journey Through Identity A recent conversation in the media about the mispronunciation of names has stirred up a lot of questions, distress, and memories—both good and bad—for me. It's also helped me understand myself on a deeper level. Growing up, my parents called me "Baby" because they first didn't know what to name me. This nickname stuck with me, and even after they eventually named me Sangeeta, I continued to be called "Baby" at home. At school, however, I was called Sangeeta, a name I hated. I cried, refused to answer, and felt ashamed. Despite my repeated corrections, my classmates and teachers struggled to pronounce it correctly, often defaulting to incorrect versions. This constant mispronunciation made me feel lost and disconnected from my identity. The name "Sangeeta" felt like a burden, while "Baby" felt infantilizing. To fit in and make life easier, I decided to go by the name "G