Christina (Meaning: Follower of Christ)

Hello everybody!

Well, it finally happened! I'm a "public school kid!"

I've been homeschooled for all of my life, but now I'm going to a school to learn Graphic Design. Going to school is an interesting experience, seeing how the world of school kids are. Being homeschooled, I have a very different outlook on life than a lot of people, but never has the contrast showed more than in my new school. I never swear, and yet swear words are rampant in today's classrooms! School is different in so many ways from my homeschooled life. I never tire of the things I learn and observe. On the learning side of my schooldays, it's been really amazing, and I've already learned a lot, thanks to my amazing teacher, Christina, who I am going to talk about today, among other people, and their names.

Christina (Meaning: Follower of Christ), (who goes by Chris in the classroom), is the teacher of the Graphic Design program I am taking. She is a great teacher and is so enthusiastic for what she teaches us, and throws herself into the program. You should have seen her at the field trip we took to a nearby college! She was beside herself as we met and learned about the school from the students there about what they learn. I also admire her for keeping a firm hand in the classroom. Frankly, it's hard to get the entire class to finish their work, show up on time, and be excited about what they do, yet Chris pushes us all each day to do our best work. She truly cares about her students finding success in the world, and has a passion for each of us.

Honestly, I have had a hard time applying Christina's meaning to her. She is most certainly not a follower, but I ask myself, what does Christ stand for? Forgiveness is one that comes to mind, as well as a reminder he never gives up on us. And that is the true meaning of Chris. She never gives up on her class, and Chris gives us more chances than we sometimes deserve, to make up lost schoolwork. Some may disagree with me, but Chris is forgiving in many ways I know I wouldn't be. Her passion for her class shows, at least to me. Chris is truly an amazing teacher!

Next on my list is Andy (Meaning: Brave Man), a student teacher that unfortunately just left our class. He is a comic book inker, and a great one at that! I am so glad I met him, even if it was for only a short while. And yes, he is a brave man. I could never ink and color the way he does. I'll stick to writing, thank you! He always encouraged the class room to chase their dreams, and shared with us the difficulties he faced to get to where he is now. I know my classmates really appreciated it, because a lot of them want to do that after they get out of school. It takes a determined person to struggle up the path Andy has taken to get where he is now, which is pretty far as comic book jobs go. I hope I can be just as successful as him some day. Andy is a testament to his name, a man who has braved the stairsteps of the corporate world to get where he is now. I am so glad I met him.

Now, onto my classmates! I have many, but here are the ones I've gotten to know as we work toward our futures. Each of them are unique, and their names denounce who they are in an amazing way.

Next to me is Syd (Meaning: From the wide island meadow of St. Denys), a young woman who is the opposite of me in everyway. She is probably the most prolific swearer in the room, and her hair is bright pink, but her name is the best way to describe her. Sydney has a lot of meanings, but "St. Denys" describes Syd the best. St. Denys (Meaning; Follower of Wine), was a priest who was beheaded for his beliefs near Paris. He stood for his beliefs, and Syd does the same. She is a strong woman, and I doubt any attempt to change her would find success. For that, I commend Syd. She knows who she is, much more so than many other teens I have met over time, and isn't ashamed of it. Good going Syd!

Now for Jake (Meaning: He who supplants). He sits in front of Syd, and the two of them go to the same school, so I imagine that their antics carry on through many classes. Let's say Jake likes to get the better of Syd, and so teases her endlessly. He is a great writer, and he writes about history. He's very informative, and I've learned a lot from him.

Now, Jake's name is hard to apply to him, with supplant meaning "one who replaces, supersedes." Perhaps I don't know him well enough to really apply his name, but he's an avid gamer and assumes many different characters. That is the best way to apply his meaning, currently. I imagine in the future, he will rise to the places that need to be filled.

Heatherly (Meaning: From the Woodland Clearing) is a fellow homeschooler who I spent my first day with, and who showed me around the classroom when I first checked out graphic design. Our school has students from other schools come on Wednesdays to check out classrooms, and Heatherly does the job of showing them around on those days. She's very good at what she does, and is a great example of what homeschoolers are. Also, she's one of the very few kids I have never heard swear. Heatherly's name is interesting in itself. Normally a surname, it comes from a single town in England, Adderley to be precise, which was a woodland clearing. It was a safe place from the wilderness surrounding it. That is Heatherly's meaning, and it applies to her. She is a gentle person, and is welcoming to the new students that cycle through our schoolroom each Wednesday. Heatherly is a young woman who is truly as great as her meaning.

Next I'm going to talk about Pearla (Meaning: Beautiful Pearl). She sits on the other side of me, and is a quiet, unassuming genius in Graphic Design. Chris is always saying how great she is, and while I haven't seen much of her work, I don't doubt she is. She is always busy, and always very nice to the people around her. It has been a pleasure getting to know her, and I'm sure she will be doing great things in graphic design. Her name fits her for sure: she is a quiet, almost unassuming gem.

Last is Damion (Meaning: He who tames or subdues others), who sits behind me to the left. He is his name, no doubt about it, but we will get to that later. He holds himself with a dignity and calm few have in my class, and it translates to the others around him. I admire him for that, and I'm sure it's not easy to be like that in public schools today. His name fits him for sure. He has an air of authority I haven't seen in anyone else, and he tames those around him. I've heard him complain about people swearing a few times, and somehow, no one backtalks him. That's rare in the world today. Damion, I have no doubt, will be doing great things someday. I hope I'm there to see it.

That's my classmates I've gotten to know, although there are many more, each as unique as the people I've been writing about here. I know we are all going to be great graphic designers, thanks to Chris. I have no doubt her students will be the best graphic designers around, and I hope all of her students thank her for that. I know I do. My fellow classmates are all headed toward great things, and I know they have a passion for what they are learning. We are all the next generation of graphic designers, and we will be the people who define our art. I know we will bring a meaning to it unlike anyone else. Syd, Jake, Heatherly, Pearla, Damion, and I are headed toward our future, and I believe it is something wonderful. And we have one, single person to thank. Our amazing teacher Chris. I cannot say how grateful I am that she teaches us her passion. That is wonderful. Thanks again Chris!

Is your name Syd, Chris, Damion, Jake, Pearla, or Heatherly? What does your name mean to you? What do you see in your future? What is your meaning? Tell me below, and let's celebrate the unique meaning of you and your future.

Be you meaning!

Maximilian M.