[KF4FMT]

I am planning on upgrading to General Class by the end of the year. I have held my current callsign since I was originally licensed in 1995. I would like to change my callsign either now or when I upgrade.

I was wondering how many of you have kept their/your original callsign even when you have upgraded.

Was a new callsign automatically assigned?
Did you go through the vanity callsign program?

It's not that I hate my callsign, it is dear to me. I'm just now getting back into ham radio after a long lapse and have set a goal to upgrade. I thought a change in my callsign would therefore also be appropriate.