Jenna Can...

I've been called by a lot of different things in my 21 years.
My mom and dad named me Jenna, allegedly because my mom "liked the name!" but the truth came out years later (a Dallas star? Really, mom?). But I never really liked the name Jenna growing up.
There seemed to be only one given nickname. Jen (shudder). Which didn't do much for my individuality when there were (count 'em) three Jens in my fourth grade class.
I digress.
Then there are the questions. "What's your name?" Jenna. "No, your real name". Still Jenna. "Like, your full name?" Jenna.
But then I went to high school where, almost overnight, the nickname Jenna-Belle took off for some unknown reason, quickly followed by Jenna-Love, Jenna-Bear and, Blairre's favorite, Jenna-Face.
Then I went to college, where my first official act was choosing an NMSU email address. Candelaria was too long. Jenna was already taken. All that the email would let me fit was Jennacan. Thus, my new nickname was born.
Who even thought it would be a nickname? I sure didn't. My sorority sisters were the first to pick up on it. In front of my girls at a meeting, I was giving instructions on my email when everyone burst out laughing. "JennaCAN!" or, sometimes when I'm late for a party or can't go to the bar because of homework, I'm briefly labeled JennaCANNOT. I try to avoid that one.
What started as a simple email has now become part of my identity, a testimony to my abilities and a constant reminder to stay positive.
And so I begin this blog, where I hope to navigate through my senior year of college, reminiscing and trying new things. I'll find out if JennaCan... ace the GRE, be the perfect bridesmaid, survive one last sorority recruitment, fall in love and land a graduate assistantship for further education.
Lord help me.