I used to not like my name. Bryce Lau is my first and last name, and I couldn’t tell you why I didn’t like it. I vividly remember me talking to my parents, “Mom, I don’t like my name!” 

Growing up, there was a kid named Blake who was just one year younger than me. Maybe I viewed him to be better than me? Again, I can’t quite put a finger on why I just didn’t like the name “Bryce.”

As time went on though, I do feel that I've learned to like my name more and more. I think my name strongly represents me as a person, as well as my accomplishments. I am going to be a marine, have lost 20 pounds, and get to perform at my high school’s final senior party. Right there are just a few accomplishments that I am proud of who represent me–my story.

Alongside my accomplishments, there are definitely stories that have happened that made my own name grow on me. 

Before I switched school districts, there was a time I was sitting in a small pod of four people during eighth grade English class. This was right around the time I started producing music, and the people I was sitting with were coming up with some potential lyrics–raps if you will. 

“My name is Bryce, I’m cooking up food and it’s fast like some rice. You think that I’m nice? But I keep it all cool like some ice.”

That opening line to the silly lyrics we were writing has always stuck with me. Since I am now a senior in high school and still making music, I think the whole music theme even more strongly represents my name.

When talking about names, it’s almost a given that nicknames play a part in our identity. I never had a lot of nicknames, but my dad started calling me “Bryster” when I was young and even still does now. When I hear that name it almost brings a sense of nostalgia to me. In more recent times a couple of my friends started referring to me as “B-Money” which I find hilarious–and I love it.

My name has grown on me more over the years and probably will still continue to do so. I think for people the more we grow and develop the more we realize what OUR name represents and not anyone else’s. We should be proud of who we are, what our name is, and everything accomplished.