Why the name change to Dzikowski?

After the recent passing of my father, who was the last Dzikowski, I decided to honor my heritage and family name by using my first and last name from the "Americanized" Andrew Gekoskie to include my original name: Andrzej Dzikowski while conducting professional orchestras. My grand parents emigrated from Poland to America in the late 1800's /early 1900's. While trying to "fit in" and get employment in the coal mines, my grandfather was asked, by the coal mine foreman, how do you say this "Dzikowski" ? My grandfather responded, to which the foreman wrote down on his time card "Gekoskie". This actually stuck for the newly emigrated family even though all had "Dzikowski" on their birth certificates. In an effort to help me in life to get out of the poverty, and at the time "stigma" of being Polish in Shamokin, Pennsylvania, my family felt it would be best to place the english translation on my birth certificate - Andrew Gekoskie. I feel strongly about family and one's heritage. I absolutely understand the motivation of my family to help me along the way to try to give me a better chance, one that was better than what my family endured while living in coal country/ Shamokin, Pennsylvania. I am eternally grateful for all that my family provided me and my sister while pinching every penny. My family sent me (as the first Dzikowski to ever attend college) as well as my sister to college. They are the reason I have this wonderful career in music. For this reason, and my strong belief in being proud and honored by one's heritage, I have decided to also use my full Polish name: Andrzej Dzikowski. (andy for short :))