What's in a name?

I was never a fan of my name because of its lack of pizazz. I thought there was no cool significance behind it, no sense of originality to it since it's common enough. I always wished that I would've been given a long name that I could shorten into whatever name I wanted; I thought that such an action would give me control over something that was given to me without my say. However, once I discovered where "Kayla" came from, I came to be appreciative of the significance that my name has within my family. My older brother had a love interest during his Kindergarten year. She would write him love letters that were deciphered by my mother, as my brother was still illiterate. These notes were always signed "Love, Kayla", and I guess my parents were amused by the six-year-old love exchange going on. When they were surprised with the gift of my existence, they decided that they would name me after my brother's Kindergarten lover. It's sort of weird when hearing the story for the first time, but I've had time to think about it- give or take seventeen years- and I am flattered by their decision. They chose a name that symbolizes love. It obviously wasn't sincere love, but was enough to make my brother smile whenever he got a letter. I like to think that my parents smiled when I was born the same way he would, and named me Kayla as a result of the joy that came from their love for me. When I looked up the meaning of Kayla, the English definition was "pure". I can't think of a better way to describe what love is supposed to be in its most basic form. Even though my name doesn't contain several syllables or a spelling that yields multiple pronunciations, I have come to be content with it. In my eyes my name is no longer boring, but something that reminds me of how loved I am.

Being a daughter is a blessing and a curse. I am grateful for my parents because they are constantly encouraging my growth as an individual and do not attempt to suppress certain personality traits of mine that they aren't particularly fond of. However, there are certain situations where I am forced to surrender my individuality as a teenage girl and instead obey the judgement of my parents. It's tough for me because I am self-sufficient and mature enough to make sensible judgements on my own, but I am still at an age where my parents have the ultimate say in what I am and am not allowed to do. As a daughter, I am entirely willing to respect my parents and whatever they request of me. However, as a 17 year old girl who is soon to be living on her own, I am frustrated with the dichotomous life I live of being an independent individual but dependent daughter. However, it's not a situation that I despise. I'm aware that the judgment of my parents is based off more experience and familiarity with life than any decisions I make, so at the end of the day I understand that their decisions are likely more defensive of my well-being than my own. I know that the situation I have described is only temporary and is just the fact of life when it comes to parents and teenagers. Overall, I am grateful that my parents care enough about me to exercise their power in the form of saying no, even if it is the most annoying thing in the world in the moment.