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My first name is Darla. Yes, I was named after a character on "The Little Rascals". When I graduated from college I got a job working as a juvenile court counselor. I'm working with all the delinquents, and the name Darla is just not portraying the professionalism I want. So I started going by my middle name Michelle two weeks into the job! It was most confusing in the beginning - people would say "Michelle", and I would ignore them! I worked at that job for eight years, and everytime we hired a new secretary I would have to tell them if someone called for Darla - that would be me! My family, childhood and college friends still call me Darla, and every one I know professionally and my husband call me Michelle. It's funny - I'll run into someone from high school (you know - those people who remember you but you don't have a clue who they are) and tell them my name is Michelle. They are like - Oh - I thought you were someone else. I know you from somewhere....and then I'll tell them I went by Darla in school and they say that's how I know you! Oh well, that is my story on changing my name for the sake of professionalism!
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