-
1977 - Early Childhood
When I was 5 years old my baby brother was born and just 2 months later, my parents divorced. This was a lot of change for me all at once. My mom, brother, and I all relocated to a different town and moved in with my grandmother. My mom was forced to rely on government assistance to survive. She had been a teen mom and had dropped out of high school and had no job experience or skills. Micro, Meso, and Exo systems -
1989 - Adolescence
At 17, I got married, and later that year, I had my first child. I found out 2 weeks before my wedding that I was pregnant. We relocated across the country as soon as the baby was born as my husband was in the Coast Guard. So at 17, I was on the other side of the country where I had no family and knew no one while at the same time I was a new wife and had a newborn to take care of. MIcro, Meso, Exo, and macro systems -
1992 - Emerging Adulthood
At 19 I had my second child. By this time my husband had left the military and we had moved home to Oregon. This was a good time in my life. We had our little family and the support of our extended families and our friends. Micro and Meso systems. -
2001 - Adulthood
At 29 my husband decided he didn't want to be married anymore so we divorced. This left me as a single mother with 2 kids to raise. I had been a stay-at-home mom so, like my mother before me, I had no education and no job skills so I was forced to rely on government assistance. This was a difficult time for both me and of course my children. Micro, Meso, and Exo systems. -
2011 - Adulthood
When I was 39 years old, my baby brother was diagnosed with cancer and began chemotherapy. The treatment cured the cancer, but damaged his lungs and scarred them so badly it was like they turned to stone. He passed away just a few months after his diagnosis. This was one of the hardest things I have ever dealt with. He was my best friend, and I still miss him every day. Micro and Exo systems. -
2017 - Middle Adulthood
At 45 I weighed 340 pounds and was sick and miserable. I couldn't get my weight down, so I decided to have bariatric surgery. This changed my entire life. I lost 200 pounds, and got healthy again (both mentally and physically). This is when I decided to go back to school and finish the degree I had been trying to get for over 20 years. I also became a grandma this year as well. Micro, Meso, and Exo systems. -
2021 - Middle Adulthood
At 49, I graduated with honors with a Bachelor's degree in applied psychology. I had tried going to school so many times and something always got in the way. But after over 20 years I finally finished it! I am a first-generation graduate, which I am very proud of. MIcro, Meso, and Exo systems.