Journal Assignment 2 by Kwasi Cooper
If I remembered clearly, I think I was around age fourteen getting ready for my confirmation classes. My grandmother who was a diehard Catholic made sure we knew everything about catholicism, including partaking in all its religious activities.
As a tradition my siblings and I had to go through the necessary process to be a member of the Catholic religion. The first step was baptism, then first communion, followed by confirmation, and last, marriage, if that was an option.
I was the third born to my parents and it was time for me to confirm. I carried the name Kwasi Rodriguez as a child and that name was recorded on my baptism certificate. My mother who also carried Rodriguez decided to change my name to my father’s last name, so I became Kwasi Cooper.
All the Catholic members who were confirming at the same time I were, filled the church waiting on their name to be called so they can be placed in their designated classes. After a few minutes of watching the other kids respond to their names and received their class number, I realized the crowd got smaller, and smaller, and I was still awaiting my name to be called.
Then finally, I found myself sitting alone and everyone else was assigned to their classes. I felt invisible. Anonymous as I was, I found the courage to walk up to the individual who was in charge of the names. Then I said to him that my name wasn’t called. He asked me what was my name, and I replied, Kwasi Cooper. Things suddenly changed for the worse when he said there isn’t any Kwasi Cooper on his list. I dropped my chin and steared at the ground, feeling completely embarrassed. I didn’t want to be anonymous, in fact, I wanted everyone to know my name.
Then the Gentleman said to me that there was a Kwasi Rodriguez on his list that no one responded to. That’s me I quickly said, filled with joy.
When my mother changed my name, my baptism name and records in the Catholic Church weren’t changed, so they had no clue who Kwasi Cooper was.
I do not practice catholicism today but I will never forget what it feels like to be an anonymous Catholic.
