In English, just as in German, my name means someone who played the fife in the millitary, and then reached a commanding rank. In German it is pronounced the same way, but with a "P" Pfifer.

I was born Jordan Alexander Fifer, the Jordan comes from my father's favorite basketball player, Michael Jordan, Alexander came from who knows what. My German last name is the result of a long forgotten lineage to my European ancestors. Irish, German, Polish, my heritage lies there, in Europe.

My mother came from a Polish, partially Irish, background. Her mother was adopted. This has always left a curious gap in my family history. I could never truly know my background. My fater's side is more clearly defined. The Fifer's were of German descent, and we moved to America long ago.

My family calls me Alex, and so do my friends. My teachers call me Jordan, but some call me Fifer, or Mr. Fifer. It is always something that I wanted to understand, my last name. And for the last few years, I have. I have inherited a forgotten German heritage, and to this day I wonder who I truly am.

At school they say my name, either Alex, Jordan, or Fifer. I am most often called Fifer, and I actually enjoy it. At times they do it to annoy me, others pronounce it as though it has three f's. But my name is always welcome, if not mysterious to me.