For 18 years of my life, I was known by family and friends alike by my birth name, Amanda. In 7th grade, I had one friend who would call me “Manders” and then during senior year of high school, the newspaper advisor called me “Mandy” thinking that was what everyone called me. But that was as far as nicknames went.

The spring before my freshman year of college, I made the decision that I would go by the name, Mandi.

I chose Mandi because I thought it sounded cute, and I liked Mandi with an “i” because I wanted to be unique and memorable.

I decided to change my name for one reason: to reinvent myself.

Here I was, moving from the East Coast to the West Coast, 3,000 miles away from everyone who knew me (excluding the two other kids from high school who were going to the same college, but it wasn’t like I cared what they thought).

I could be anyone I wanted.

No one would know my past.

I was free to be someone new, or perhaps the person I had always intended to be.

Indeed, maybe it was because I changed my name from Amanda to Mandi that I had the confidence to be more extroverted.

Those first few weeks of freshman year, I was unafraid of going up to new people, starting conversations, and making friends. “Hi, I’m Mandi!” I’d say with a smile, bringing my hand forward for a handshake.

At first, it was weird going by a different name. Though I had made the decision to change my name myself, after about 3 weeks, I missed being called Amanda, but it’s not like I could go back to my old name. Everyone at college already knew me as Mandi.

And so, I stuck it out. And I’m glad I did. Because the girl named Amanda is in my past. Now, I’m Mandi.

Since going to college, I’ve become a different person.

Positive change.

Nonetheless, I don’t think I would’ve been as open to change had I kept being Amanda. Although Amanda had her good qualities, she was hesitant, quieter, took bull**** from others, and this prevented me from living life as full as possible.

Becoming Mandi, I am now more open and honest, I walk away when I’m unhappy, and I seek the adventure and goodness in everything. I don't follow along, I make my own choices. I am free and unafraid.

Overall, it was necessary to change my name to suit this new stage of my life. You know as the saying goes: New year, new me. Speaking of, maybe this year I'll go by Manders...

Just kidding. I'm gonna stick with Mandi for now.