NICKNAMES

Mar 30, 2010

<b>What do students say?</b><br>NICKNAMING is one of the common practices in schools. Agnes Kyotalengerire interviewed students from various classes and below is their take on it.

What do students say?
NICKNAMING is one of the common practices in schools. Agnes Kyotalengerire interviewed students from various classes and below is their take on it.

Billy Wamala, S.6
Nickname: Salvador
My nick name comes from my long hair, similar to a character in a TV soap called Second Chance. When I joined this school last year, a group of S.1 and S.2 students stared at me through the window. They suddenly shouted, ‘Salvador’ and ran away. It did not offend me. The name remained and soon everyone was calling me Salvador.

Brendah Komukyeya, S.2
Nickname: Ball Bearing
This nickname is about my eyes. It means that I have big eyes. It was started by a boy in our class called Jonathan when our physics teacher taught us about ball bearings. After the lesson, Jonathan started calling me Ball Bearing making the whole class burst into laughter. At first, I did not like the nickname and I remember slapping Jonathan. However, students did not stop nicknaming me.

John Kazibwe, S.4
Nickname: Tadi
As a student in S.1, I was very short. I earned the name ‘Tadpole’, meaning a young frog. This made me very furious. Students then decided to give it a short form of ‘Tadi’. Since Kazibwe and John were common names among students, calling me Tadi would differentiate me from the others.

Isaac Ssemwanga, S.3
Nickname: Squirrel
My nickname was started by our English teacher Madam Veronica Kiiza. I was disturbing my friends during her lesson. To make me pay attention, she said, “You squirrel stop playing in class,” and ordered me to stand up. The whole class started laughing at me and the name stuck.

Patience Natukunda, S.4
Nickname: Straka
I was walking out of class one day when a boy shouted, “Straka sit down” referring to me. The whole class laughed and repeated after him. Sometimes it affects me. I cannot walk out when students are in class because I fear being called names.

Israel Binyansi, S.2
Nickname: Girl’s Nectar
Students nicknamed me Nectar and I do not feel comfortable at all. It all started at the S.1 welcoming party. I danced so well and excited the girls; they continued cheering me throughout the presentation. I think this did not go down well with the boys who in turn nick-named me Nectar. Though it made me uneasy at first, I later got used to it.


Wilson Eceditai, S.2
Nicknames: Big Daddy and Hairy
I have two nicknames. Most times, I am called Big Daddy (because I am the biggest boy in class) or Hairy (because I have a hairy body). At first, I disliked the nicknames. I once reported a boy who called me names. He was made to write an apology letter. Still students did not stop calling me those names. My real names are long forgotten, and I have accepted to be called by my nicknames.

John Wabutwa, S.3
Nickname: Poison/Toxin
It all began in 2009 when I joined this school. I found the lesson going on and was asked to introduce myself. To my surprise students called me Poison; Toxin. The nickname affects me, especially when I raise my hand to give an answer and students shout me down. Most times, teachers think I am stubborn.

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