7/21/10

Student story: Nick pickin

By Ali Swee

El presidente. Old Hickory. Slick Willie. The Gipper. Uncle Joe. Essentials of any basic U.S history class.

All bonded by a common thread. Nicknames.

At one point in life, most will be given a nickname. Whether it’s a spin off their name, or a completely arbitrary word, it’s inevitable. And at Flint Hills Publication Camp, nicknames are as common as notebooks and Nikons.

For some, nicknames provide the casualness their given name lacks. Born James Robert Langton, the Shawnee Mission South High School student prefers Jimmy. Jim. Jimbo. And occasionally, Jim-Jim.

“I think someday when I transition into the business world, I’ll go back to James,” Langston says nonchalantly. But for now, he’ll stick to Jimmy.

Nicknames allow some to truly express themselves. Exposing a hidden talent. Rearranging initials to create a word. Or even a rap name. Emily DeCoursey, a student at Notre Dame de Sion High School, has many alter egos. Milli. Kitty. ED.

“I’m called Kitty because I meow,” She said, rolling her eyes dramatically. “ A lot.”

DeCoursey’s personal favorite? “Milli Vanilli. It’s my rap name.” She smiles, obviously proud of her nickname only Eminem could love.

For others, nicknames are cringe-provoking. A daunting memory. An embarrassing moment. Or just an ignorant justification. After years of Tay-Tay, Tay, and T, Notre Dame de Sion student Taylor Escher reminisces a shudder-worthy memory from her childhood.

“My parents used to call me Taylor-tot and I hated it,” she said wrinkling her nose in disgust. “I felt like a fat, little potato.”

Then, there’s those who view nicknames as analytically as they view an AP Calc test. Take Notre Dame de Sion student Anne-Marie Albracht. That’s Anne hyphen Marie. Not Anne. Not Annie. And definitely not Anne Marie. There’s a hyphen. And don’t forget it.

Albracht is passionate about her name and preserving it. She has been through many tribulations in her battle. And her friends are not on her side. Freshman year, her new friend Lauren Roberts decided she would be Anne and introduced her to everyone.

“So,” Albracht sighs, “then I had a group of friends that exclusively called me Anne. I hated it.”

Sophomore year, they were bored with Anne. So she became Annie.

Then there’s the whole hyphen fiasco.

“OK, so I am a brat about the hyphen.” Albracht admits.

Perfect nickname opportunity: she became “Hyphen.”

The nicknames kept coming.

“Oh, oh! The absolute worst one was sooooo stupid: Morning.”

Why do they call her Morning? Because of Anne-Marie. AM. As in 5 a.m. Hence the name, ‘morning’.

“I am Anne hyphen Marie, and I’m going to stick to it,” She said. “I’m going to fight for the right to my name.”

Nicknames. Given to campers. Journalists. Students.

Presidents. Republicans. Democrats. Dictators. Even Whigs. Essentials of any US history class.

Influencing, innovating and paving the way for tomorrow's emerging leaders, one moniker at a time.

Ali Swee is a junior at Notre Dame de Sion High School and a student in the advanced writing class at the Flint Hills Publications Workshop.

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