Sorry future husband, mom and dad, grandparents, and whoever else might be upset at my declaration, but I am not changing my name as soon as I get married.

I have HUGE aspirations and major career goals set in my head. Let's say I get married half-way to my goals, now that's confusing to everyone I have worked with and I can't change my name on my degrees or publications. I am currently on track to becoming a nurse in the Army Nurse Corps. I want to move my way up through the ranks and continue my education and make a big difference in the world.

I am doing this. Not my husband- me. I am going to become a high-ranking officer (and who wants to change all their name tapes? Ugh, not me), I am going to get my MSN and become a nurse practitioner, I am going to continue on to get my doctorate (just call me Dr. Nurse), and I am going to do ground-breaking and life-changing research. ME. So, I want MY name on all of this.

Now one argument I have heard to all of this is "what about your kids? They'll have a different last name!" And yes, this does matter to me, that is why I will introduce myself personally with my husband's last name. My husband and I made those kids so we can all have the same last name. Hyphenating doesn't really appeal to me because what if my kid marries someone else with a hyphenated last name? Then they have four names to deal with and that's just confusing (no offense to anyone with that kind of name).

Of course, this could all change. I could decide I am completely satisfied with my work and I don't want to continue on with degrees or getting promoted. If that's the case, then I'll change my name. Or maybe I will have accomplished all that I want to accomplish after changing the world and I will change my name. Maybe I'll get married right after I graduate (HA!) and change my name before I've even started my career.

Ultimately, it's my decision. The only person who can slightly impact my choice is my future husband. And who knows, maybe he'll like my name.