APPLE??...

My name is Apollonia Poliseno. I am sure you rarely hear that name. I actually never met an Apollonia myself. The name Apollonia comes from my decease grandmother. She passed away a few months before I was born. My relatives tell me that I have many of her characteristics. My grandmother was a loving person, a caring person and a wonderful cook. I also look identical to her. We both have an enormous bright smile, light brown eyes, small hands, and an hour-glass shape body. My father tells me that my grandmother and my personalities are alike. He told me that certain little things mean a lot to us.

I find it amusing when people say my name. When a professor calls attendance they say (for example) "Anna, Joseph, Bob, Ray........Apollonia." I always hear this long pause before my name is called. I never herd it mispronounce, however I hear everyone say Apollonia romantically. When a professor calls my name everyone tells me it is a beautiful name.

Apollonia is on my birth certificate, my friends that i grew up with know me as Paulette. My parents thought people would make fun of me if my name was Apollonia. On all of my important papers such as bank books, checks from work, license, etc. they are all under Apollonia. When I applied to St.Johns everything was under Apollonia and my Friends ask me "who is Apollonia"?

When I first started college I was proud to be called Apollonia because of the wonderful comments I heard about my name. I am proud my father kept the Italian tradition by naming me after his mother.