Xochitl Tovar,
Riverside, CA.
Growing up, my name was my worst enemy. Not only did my fellow schoolmates give me a hard time about it, but my teachers made it difficult for me as well. I became accustomed to spelling it out and pronouncing it for the comfort of others, which would turn into a source of amusement for them. But as I got older, the name I despised is now the name I appreciate for its strength and uniqueness, derived from the Aztec Mayans. Now Xochitl is often recognized and no longer pronounced the cuisine of sushi.
