Call Me Ferina Aprilla

Symbol of my name -Ferina Aprilla-

What is exactly the meaning of someone’s name? We have already known that everybody in this world possesses a name. Even sometimes people give a name to thing that is very important for them.  Even sometimes when people call your name wrong, you will get angry and say “that is not my name!” Is it really important to have a name? The answer is yes.

Name represents people’s identity. We are able to determine someone’s identity through his or her name. For example, in my area which is dominated by Sundanese many man are named as Ujang or Jajang. Those two names are from the word ujang in Sundanese it is used to call young men. Be sides that Eneng or Neneng are usually used for girl. It also comes from word eneng which is used to call young women. If I meet a girl named Eneng or a man named Ujang in the outer of Sundanese area I can know they are Sundanese.

Some people say that someone’s name has its own meaning. It could be his or her parents hope, but everyone’s name will have different meaning of each. Then, what does Ferina Aprilla mean? It does not represent my identity as Sundanese or as a Moslem either. I was also confused at first. Then I ask my parents why they gave me this name. Their answer was so simple but it motivated me to be a better person.

My parents did not put special hope when my mother was pregnant of me. Even they said they did not prepare me a special name. After my mother gave birth, they started to think about my name. At that time many family members gave suggestion for naming me, but then my father decided to name me as Ferina because he liked one of news reader on TVRI whose name was Ferina. Then Aprilla was taken from the month when I was born and they gave suffix –la so it become Ferina Aprilla. My father said that he hoped I could be as smart as the news reader named Ferina on TVRI and be a success person even more success that her.

I am happy that I was named as Ferina because of my father’s hope on me. I never think to change it. Instead, I want to prove my father that I can be what he wants me to be. It doesn't matter that my name does not represent my identity as a Sundanese or a Moslem, because Sundanese and Moslem are inside my heart. Moreover, my name represents my father’s hope. My name will be my uniqueness because Sundanese rarely use letter F on their name. So call me Ferina Aprilla.

It is important to have a name in order to differentiate us from one another. Besides that it represents our identity as part of our culture.