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8.1- Rite of Passage
I am not sure if it was in my adolescents or if it is classified as a rite of passage but my family had a rule that the summer you turned eight, you could go fishing. It started with my Grandpa and was passed on to us. In some ways, it symbolized that we were ready for responsibility. Specifically, responsible enough to handle a hook on our own. We were not called adults afterwards or anything; just old enough to be "grown." -
4.1- Gender Based Behavior
I was in the third grade. I was a part of a group of girls who were always fighting. Every recess, one of us was crying. The school counselor just ignored us and refused to help. To the counselor, we were just sensitive girls. It was the school social worker who recognized and intervened our behavior. After our feelings and issues were addressed and not dismissed, we all got along. -
1.1 Entering Adolescence
This is the date I chose for when I entered adolescence. It is when I entered middle school. There were a combination of several factors around that time. Middle school is where I had to sacrifice having one teacher all day and recess. Middle school is also when I hit puberty and so did everyone else. I felt that I had a smooth transition that did not match the book. Most of my peers struggled with the academic and emotional changes where I did not. -
7.1- Transition to Middle School
When I transitioned to middle school, I was in a public school. I remember being lost and having to start going to different classrooms without guidance. The classes were harder but I felt I transitioned well compared to my peers. I would go to their houses and help them catch up to the academic rigor of middle school. I tend to become more academic focused when stressed so my social development paused and academic development prospered. -
6.2- Companionship
I had a friend, Holly from the fourth grade to today. When we started being friends, we did not know how to match our clothes. In the early stages of our friendship to mid-middle school, we were companions. We were friends because we did everything together. Whenever we fought, it was because one of us did not involve the other in activities. -
6.1- Parent Adolescent Conflict
Just before my adolescence, my parents divorced and I moved to the USA. My mom was a single mother of five kids. My mother never really worried about me because she saw that I was resilient and because she had so much more things to worry about. Most of our conflicts were from the stress from the divorce and move to the USA. I am not sure how much was also due to my adolescent behavior and how much was from stress. -
2.1 Typical Maturer
I hit puberty around the same time as my peers (11-13). It was gradual but I My little sister hit puberty around 8 years old (she reached maturity way before I did). Her body did not match her maturity and puberty was harder on her than it was on me. However, she did not act out like the book says. She was/is a goody-two shoe. I am glad I had an easier experience with puberty than she did. -
2.2 Niche-Picking
Deafness is a dominant gene for females in my family. It was in my early adolescence that I sought out and fought for a year and a half for a Deaf learning environment. It was the first time I had ever had to fight for my rights to a group of hearing strangers telling me what was best for me, no accommodations of ANY form (including interpreters). November 2nd, 2007 is when I entered the Michigan School for the Deaf. I would not be as devoted to d/Deaf people and their rights without it. -
3.2- Self-Protection
Hello, I am fourteen years old. I am funny. I like to have fun with my best friends, Holly and Jennifer. My life is good and I rarely have any issues. I am not like my peers, life is just dandy for me. -
6.3- Stimulation
I have a friend, Jennifer. We have been friends since the 7th grade. We were great friends because she served all six ways a friend should. The strongest attribute we both had was stimulation. We made each other laugh. We taught each other so much random but critical things. We saw each other 24/5 (literally). -
7.3- Intrinstic Motivation
My motivation in high school had a lot to do with my best friend. What motivated her began to motivate me and vice versa. I developed a strong intrinsic motivation for academics through her. Even though we are a country apart now, my motivation and love for school remains the same. I suppose you can say that my motivation is fed by my success in terms of grades. When I work hard on something and it is not as successful, I keep going but at a slower pace. -
3.3- Contradictions With the Self
I am a sophomore in high school. I am tough, I do not let people get through to me. I have some really good friends. Although, some people do not like me, probably because I am sensitive to how people say things. I am a good student even though I goof around in class and make teachers angry. -
3.1 Social Cognition
I remember when I was a senior in high school, I went to Florida. Prior to that time, I was really self conscious about my arms for some reason. When I was in Florida, all these women were wearing tank tops, regardless of their size or if it looked good. It was then, that I lost my self consciousness about my arms. I realized that the only person who noticed was me. I had felt like everyone cared about it before then. -
7.2- Transition to College
Going to college is scary! I felt I was academically prepared for college. The academic transition was smooth. The honors program helped. The emotional transition was different. I was miles away from home and had to cope with leaving for long periods of time. I also had to develop friendships from scratch. In that first year, I learned more about myself than I have in high school. -
4.2 Non-Gender Typed Behavior
When I was in high school, there was one female athlete who defied gender roles of females. She cut her hair short and was obsessed with gaining strength. She acted like one of the boys and did not really engage with girls. In any sport, her goal was to be the strongest. She did not care if she was the best, only if she was the strongest. -
1.2 Emerging Adulthood
I feel I entered emerging adulthood in the second semester of my sophomore year. I had just turned twenty and it is when I stopped worrying about doing things in my life alone. I was no longer dependent on friends or family to guide me through life. I do agree with the book, I still do not feel like an adult. I have moments where I still call my mother for advice. I am still starting my career and life.
