In the midst of Friday night chaos at the restaurant I work at, I whip around the back corner to see who is shouting my name. After nearly having a head-on collision with one of my coworkers, I come to the realization that no one was summoning me. At least I was not delusional because I heard my name, only it was not directed to me.

If that was confusing for you, imagine how I feel on a daily basis working with another girl who has the same name as me. In reality, I have the same name as her, seeing as she is a year older than me, but you get the point.

Some people are more acclimated to the experience of having the same name as someone else they interact with on a regular basis. It is no secret that some names are more common than others, and thus the mix-ups throughout grade school occurred when there were two Jacobs or three Sarahs in the same class. My parents gave me the beautiful name of Sydney, and it was not until middle school that I ever had another Sydney in one of my classes. Personally, I thought it was the most amazing thing ever.

Fast forward six years and now I work with a Sydney. We really are a perfect duo. God bless. At the restaurant which we both work at, I prepare food in the kitchen, and she is a server. I am shorter and she is taller (than me). She is brunette and I am blonde. We complete each other with these qualities, but we have a lot of similarities too. Other than our shared name, we love similar music, tacos, unburnt garlic bread, and more.

If you do not have a friend with the same name as you, I am sad to report that you are missing out on some life-changing experiences. Whenever Sydney and I are out on campus together, we inevitably bump into people that one of us knows. The best thing is that without a doubt if someone recognizes Sydney and says hi, I am always the first one to look up and vice versa. Our unshared friends and acquaintances are definitely confused when this occurs, but we are used to it. This invariably keeps us on our toes.

Another ordeal you are missing out without a name-sharing friend is ordering food. You can always count on Sydney and me to realize after we have both ordered food that we also both gave the same name to the cashier. It then becomes a game or not only remembering what exactly you ordered, but who will receive their food first. People tend to forget how much the little things in life like this, really add some excitement to your day.

We automatically connect better with people who have similar demographics or background as us. Friends who share the same name as you undoubtedly make life more exciting and enjoyable. I do not suggest you put an add on craigslist for someone with the same name as you, but defintly do not shy away from getting to know someone you share a name with. You will not regret it once you get used to it.