When I look back at my younger days, one thing that has stayed with me all these years is my name RUHLAR. The story behind it goes way back to when I was still in JSS2, which is more than 18 years ago now. At that time, I was just an ordinary boy in my neighborhood, hanging out with my friends, playing football, and living life without worries.
photos are mine.
My real name is Reuben, but the funny thing is how the username I use today came out of it. It all started from my neighborhood guys who used to shorten and twist names for fun. One day they just began calling me RUHLAR as a short form of Reuben. At first, it sounded strange to me, but then it started to feel cool. Before I knew it, the name caught fire among my friends.
What made it even more interesting was how they exported the name to school. That was the real turning point because from that moment, I was no longer just Reuben in school, I was RUHLAR. Classmates picked it up quickly, and even people who didn’t know me personally still called me by that name. It became like my second identity, something that stood out for me everywhere I went.
As I moved on in life, the name didn’t stop. Even in the university, I was still called RUHLAR. I can remember how new people I met on campus didn’t even bother asking for my real name. Once they heard the name that was it. Some of them only later found out that my actual name is Reuben. The name just had a way of sticking, and I honestly enjoyed that uniqueness.
For me, this name is more than just a nickname. It carries memories of my childhood, the bond I shared with my friends, and the journey from secondary school to university and now into manhood. Some people let go of the names they were given when they were young, maybe because they feel embarrassed by them or because they don’t like how it sounds. But for me, I carry my username with pride because it has been part of me for almost two decades.
Sometimes when I think about it, it amazes me how something that started casually has lasted this long. It wasn’t planned, it wasn’t forced, it just happened naturally, and it has remained. Even today, when I introduce myself as RUHLAR online or in any community, it feels real and personal. It’s not just an alias, it’s a part of my life story.
So yes, more than 18 years have passed since my friends first gave me that name, and today as a grown man, I still carry it with pride. From Reuben to RUHLAR, it has been a journey, and I believe it will continue to follow me no matter where life takes me.
Yours sincerely @ruhlar
