What is in a Name?

My name, Ryan Johnson, has a significant meaning for me. My last name shows my heritage and who is in my family, so this is very important to me. To people who do not know me nor my family, my name is very significant to them because it is how they connect us all together. This makes my name very significant to me, I always feel that I need to keep a good reputation for my name because if someone gets a bad impression from me, then my name would connect to my other family members and would taint our family name in a negative way. I feel that my name defines me, but only in first impressions because after a first encounter then people will know me on a deeper level than my name.

A time where I feel as though there have been two me's is in a soccer game. I commonly want to perform at the best of my abilities so that I can receive recognition or awards for my efforts. This me is more concerned about myself and wants the name on the back of my jersey to have glory and perform at the best of his abilities. The other me is more concerned about the group, all I want is for the team to do the best it can so that we win. This me is more concerned about the name on the front of the jersey and does not care as much that I personally get recognition, but rather that the team gets awards and wins. Although this me is less selfish, I feel as though both me's are important to have and they support each other. Neither me is fighting against the other, but one just stresses some things more than the other. I also feel as though both me's help the team and are important to have so you are not selfless to the point where you don't feel you matter, but also it is important to not be too selfish that you lose sight of who you are playing with and why you are playing. This is seen in Beowulf because Beowulf wants to fight and defeat the Grendel because he wants to be a hero and get recognition for the victory, but he is also fighting Grendel so he repays a dept his father owed the Danes and also to get allies for when he becomes king. His two "me's" support each other and are important to be a confident prince and Geat.