I don't disagree with you, babycat. Personally, I love unusual names; my beloved niece and nephew were both given family names that I had never heard of before.
I was thanking MsRyber for her candor--and for the helpful reminder to job-hunters that success may depend on arbitrary factors. I wasn't judging the morality of her selection method.
Yes, I know, and I shouldn't have quoted your post, especially while I was upset. I really wasn't implying anything of the sort, and I'm very sorry if it seemed that I was- I truly didn't mean to make you feel that way. I just kind of went off on a tangent in general, because I know that there is a very real possibility that this might one day happen to the kids I work with, who struggle with so many obstacles already
It seems so unfair to them that what their parents named them, even if it's not their taste, might stand in the way of all the hard work we have helped them to accomplish. We also highlight hard working youth through a national program- many have gained scholarships; they travel speaking publicly, telling their stories (many of which are heartbreaking, because they come from domestic violence, sexual abuse, extreme poverty) and have some have even met the President. National Honor Society members, leaders of school and social organizations, tutors, peer mentors. Some play the cello and violin. Most are very into art and photography. Some are excellent public speakers. Amazing, amazing kids- who might be tossed out because their name isn't part of the majority. Because their parents (who are often almost children, themselves, when they have these kids) gave them a name that might be off-putting to someone sitting in HR who deems it "odd".
It's just that I spend all day motivating these kids, and teaching them that where they come from, what they look like, what they HAVE doesn't matter- it's all about hard work and attitude- I guess I start to believe my own cheerleading, and I forget that some people will throw them aside automatically based on something so trivial.
It just feels like- yeah, let's give our kids one more thing to feel self conscious about. One more thing to work against them. Truth be told, about 90% of the kids I work with are some type of minority- and many, many of them have names that are phonetically difficult to pronounce. So I took it kind of personally.
But yes, I shouldn't have quoted you when I went off on my tangent, I truly didn't mean it to attack you, or even really as a response- it was just a jumping off point from that idea. So I apologize
Now I'm going to get off WS and take some time away.
Thanks for being patient with me, and understanding.
