Growing up, I always dreaded the first day of school. I would wince and prepare myself as the teacher read from the roster. I knew my name was next when it was introduced with an awkward chuckle and a disclaimer.
"I’m really bad with names, and I know I’m going to mess this up. Is it Jayce-Lee?" the teacher would say, as laughter erupted in the background, leaving me embarrassed.
It’s actually pronounced juh-sehl-lee.
Sadly, those moments didn’t end with school; they trailed into my professional life. Every time someone misspells my name in an email, I can hear those snickers echoing in my head: Jasley. Jaselyn. Joselyn. Jas. Jaselley. Each is loud and incorrect.
In the corporate world, we’re constantly reminded to uphold professionalism in our communication. I learned to meticulously proofread my emails for errors, understanding that misspelling someone’s name is a sign of carelessness and disrespect.
I would dot every "i" and cross every "t," only to receive responses filled with variations of my name. My name appears in my email, signature, website, and LinkedIn profile, yet the misspellings persist. It’s exhausting.
For some, my insistence on getting my name right may seem excessive, but it matters deeply to me. Many individuals from diverse backgrounds with unique names can relate.
It’s not just a name; it’s my name.
I carry my name with pride, as it honors two incredible women in my life: my mother and grandmother. My name is derived from the first syllables of their names, Jacqueline and Celina, infused with a unique twist in spelling.
It also reflects my Dominican heritage, where blending names is a common practice. My name serves as a prophecy of how I navigate the world: fearlessly and confidently, just like my mom and grandma.
I deeply resonate with Uzo Aduba’s sentiment: “My mom taught me not to change my name for those unwilling to learn it.” For a long time, I hesitated to correct my teachers in school out of embarrassment. Now, as an adult, I’ve reclaimed the beauty of my name and corrected people without hesitation.
In professional settings, if I receive a "Hey, Jasley!" email, I simply reply, "By the way, my name is spelled Jasely," or "I noticed you spelled it this way, but it’s actually spelled like this."
No one has ever been upset with my corrections. Typically, they appreciate the clarification, apologize, and move forward recognizing the correct spelling.
My name carries just as much significance as that of anyone famous. It is integral to my identity.
So, when you see my name in an email, please put some respect on it.