Good news!!!

Okay so I’m just writing this because I felt like announcing the good news! I began the whole process of changing my identity, both my first and last name, back in May. I first submitted my file for a name change in June, and it was officially approved in July. Then I filed for a surname change, to take my mom’s name and remove my dad’s, which was accepted in August.

After that, I started renewing all my official documents, my ID card, health card, passport, student card, everything. And I’m so happy to finally say that after two long months (August to October), I now have all my new papers, perfectly aligned with my new identity.

It still feels surreal, because I’ve been waiting twenty years for this moment. And to think everything went so smoothly? It truly showed me how powerful it is to know your rights and how straightforward administrative processes can be when you’re determined to see them through. Don’t let anyone slow you down. Call, email, insist, every single day if you have to. It might not seem important to them, but it is for those of us trying to turn the page and start fresh with an identity that finally feels right.

There were moments when I wanted to give up, thinking I could just keep living under my old name. But I pushed through, for the little me who always dreamed of being addressed differently, of hearing a name that truly belonged to them.

So if you ever feel like your current identity doesn’t reflect who you are, go for it. You have every right to feel good about the name people use when they speak to you.