My Life Map

Birth

Feb 28, 1983

I was born to undocumented Mexican immigrants on February 28, 1983, in a northwest suburb of Chicago, IL. My family consisted of my father, my mother, and three brothers.

Play Age - Initiative vs. Guilt

Feb 28, 1986

I was 3 years old, and my father was addicted to alcohol. The smile on this picture was the beginning of a life that I had to live pretending and sorting out on my own.
Micro Level
In this stage, I did not feel a sense of control or independence. My psychological responses were being shaped and molded by the irregulated emotional state of my abusive father.
Impact
My emotional and physical needs were not being met and out of frustration I had behavior outbursts.

School Age - Industry vs. Inferiority

Feb 28, 1991

I was 8 years old and in third grade attending elementary school in Tepotzotlán, México.

Micro Level
In this stage, I was immersed in the Mexican culture and loved to learn about Mexican traditions in school. We lived in a good neighborhood, and I felt safe in the community.
Macro Level
Living in Mexico gave me a good sense of my cultural roots and background.
Impact
I excelled in social, and academic demands, and I felt confident in my cognitive abilities and development.

Adolescence - Identity vs. Identity Confusion

Jun 1, 2000

I was 17 years old when I graduated from High School.
Micro Level
In this stage, my father led with an authoritarian parenting style, which included strict rules, obedience, and physical punishments. In high school, I engaged in risky behaviors such as skipping classes and physical fights due to bullying. I did not develop a sense of self and personal identity.
Impact
I knew I did not want to live with my parents. A couple weeks after graduation, I joined the United States Air force.

Young Adulthood - Intimacy vs. Isolation

May 15, 2005

I was 22 years old when I was deployed to Iraq.
Macro Level
The U.S. began the war on terror against Iraq following the September 11 attacks. The country was divided on whether using military force was the right decision.
Impact
As a military member, especially serving in the Iraq war, I earned a sense of self-respect, self-discipline, appreciation, training, and experience. To this day, I am recognized and appreciated for my military service.

Young Adulthood - Divorce

Nov 1, 2018

I was 35 years old when I started proceedings for divorce.
Micro Level
My husband and I struggled in our marriage. He would travel for work, and I stayed home caring for our three children. He climbed the corporate ladder and his success led to betrayal and infidelity. I became a single mom going through a high-conflict divorce.
Impact
It was time I healed, took a step forward, and showed that I get better, not bitter.

Maturity - Generativity vs. Self-Absorbtion

Aug 6, 2022

I am 40 years old, and I moved to Panama City, Florida.
Micro Level
I purchased a home 15 min from the Gulf of Mexico. I focus on self-care and my mental health. I am raising three children and getting my second master's degree.

Impact
I earned internal peace and worked through the hard psychological issues. I stopped relying on temporary fixes and learned healthy coping skills. The revival of my spiritual health is priceless and has made everything completely worth it.