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Birth
I was born in St. Louis. My mother is Lynn Bowser and my father is Pete Bowser. I seemed pretty healthy to the doctors. -
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Stage 1
Infancy - Trust vs. Mistrust -
Complications as a Baby
I became pretty sick when I was around 3 months old. After examination, there happened to be an additional kidney next to the others that was disrupting some of my processes and killing me. After one surgery, I ended up with another fully functional kidney. This later influenced my life since it was nice to feel different from everyone, with an extra vital organ. Also, my sister is a diabetic with the same blood type, so it's nice to have a backup incase something goes wrong. -
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Stage 2
Toddler - Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt -
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Stage 3
Preschooler - Initiative vs Guilt -
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Stage 4
Elementary School + 6th Grade - Competence vs Inferiority -
Mom Goes to Iraq
I was going into third grade, and my mom was (still is) an army RN. A while after she joined the army, she was deployed to Iraq for over a year. It was incredibly hard for all of us, considering my dad had just been laid off, but he made sure we all ate well and did everything we were supposed to. This impacted my identity immensely- it opened up my eyes to the rest of the world to know that such bad things were happening to other people, and that people such as my mom could help. -
Mom Comes Back from Iraq
I don't exactly remember the date, but when my mom came back, all was well again. After all of the letters, we finally got to see her again. My identity today has been heavily based on my parent's views of the world, which were mostly shared with me when she came back with pictures, stories, etc.. Honestly, this shaped me to believe that no one will ever truly understand the mililtary's sacrifice until someone they love is put in danger to save lives for over a year. -
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Stage 5
Adolescence - Identity vs Role -
Decide on French Horn
This day, I finally decided on an instrument in 7th grade. I couldn't make a sound on the flute, and oboe was cool, but my father convinced me to choose the french horn. This decision has really created most of my highschool social life. I identify myself as a band geek and I only happened to meet two of my closest friends because of middle school band class. -
First Philharmonic Orchestra Rehearsal
This is right after I first joined and auditioned for the Youth Symphony of Kansas City, which has influenced me since 8th grade to keep up my practice and playing. The constant exposure to classical pieces, playing and listening to them, influenced my identity then, as it still does today. It has created my connection with music. -
Making All-Districts
As a Freshman, it's rarely expected to make the All-District Band. Yet, as soon as the results were announced, the little french horn from Park Hill happened to be 7th chair (second to last, but meh) in the band. This convinced me that I actually had a shot at music- I had talent. It's the only reason that I even consider taking a career in music after highschool. I identify myself as a talented (self-centered, yes) french horn now. -
Making State
After All-Districts, I aimed higher. Finally, junior year, I managed to place 4th chair in the All-State Orchestra, higher than my 7th grade self would have ever imagined. This has influenced me to truly identify as someone interested in music. I believe now that I have a shot at making a professional orchestra, local or big. -
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Stage 6
Adulthood - Intimacy vs Isolation -
Marriage
I've always thought the idea of permanently having someone at your side is amazing. Marriage, although very thrown around today, is one of the most important events in life, and will change my identity to where I think in terms of 'us' rather than 'I'. -
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Stage 7
Middle Adulthood - Generativity vs Stagnation -
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Stage 8
Late adulthood - Ego Integrity vs Despair -
Death
I expect to die when I'm around 80-90. It'd be cool to live that long to see all of the technological advances and such. Even if I didn't have children, a husband, or if my entire family was now dead, I would still be happy with the fact that I had lived to see so experience the advances in life, so in this 8th stage of life, I would not be in despair. My identity would be defined by the rest of my life story(which I cannot change), and I would be content.
