Page Content
It was with delight, and then a bit of embarrassment, that I responded to a Facebook friendship request from a recent graduate. Talented, creative and always a joy to have in class, this former student had moved and started her adult life and career in a new city. That was the delightful part.
The embarrassing part came afterwards as I reflected upon the moment, years earlier, when I’d first seen her name on my Grade 7 class list. With surprise and awe I had stood transfixed by the amazing originality of this name. Who were the incredible parents who could name their child after such a popular computer program?
Though I hadn’t played The Sims (a life simulation video game) very much, as a long-time computer teacher I couldn’t wait to see this student and find out the story behind this most unique, tech-oriented name. It was later that day, when I was reviewing my class lists again, that I noticed there wasn’t a space or hyphen in her first name as I had originally and excitedly read. With a sense of surprise, and then a sense of quiet “I’m never going to tell anyone about this,” I realized that the amazing and unique 21st century name of Sim One (Simulation One!) was actually and properly read as Simone.
During the next six years at my school, I never made the mistake of saying her name like I’d first read it (or of telling anyone about it), but the inescapable fact remains that, for a few brief hours on that very first day, I had the student with the coolest name on the planet about to set foot into my computer lab. ❚
Ray Suchow teaches computers, religious studies and information processing at Christ the King School in Leduc.
Moot Points is your chance to write about a funny incident, a lesson learned or a poignant experience related to teaching. Please email articles to cory.hare@ata.ab.ca.
