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Stage: Trust vs Mistrust
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Stage: Autonomy vs Shame & Doubt
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Major Event 1: Became a Big Sister (Stage: Autonomy vs Shame and Doubt)
My sister, Kim, was born when I was 22mo. While I was semi-autonomous prior, my sister's birth caused my development skyrocketed due to being encouraged to be the big sister. Although I struggled with shared attention, being able to embrace the "big sister" role motivated me and I found attention in new ways. My sister's birth impacted my social structure and support system, such as my micro family system. Additionally, I found a passion for caring for small children. -
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Stage: Initiative vs Guilt
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Stage: Industry vs. Inferiority
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Major Event 2: First Broken Bone (Initiative vs Guilt)
I broke my dominant wrist after climbing on a gym I knew my parents wouldn't allow me to climb on, and falling off. I was trying to practice independence but when I fell, I was so afraid of being in trouble I hid my injuries. My injury made me fearful of being adventurous and my microsystem (family) provided me with support (and I didn't get grounded, as the injury was grounding enough). Learning how to keep up at school (mesosystem) without being able to write was a hard challenge -
Major Event 3: Struggling with Bullying, Body Image, and Acceptance
I became hyperaware of my body and every imperfection, which mirrored my mother's negative body image. I craved a relationship with her (microsystem) and looked up to her. We bonded over going grocery shopping (seeing what we can't eat) and clothes shopping (seeing what won't fit), and she even brought me to her Weight Watcher meetings. I craved relationships and validation externally instead of within from peers and family (mesosystems), mostly from boys at school. -
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Stage: Identity vs Role Confusion
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Major Event 4: International Baccalaureate Program (Identity vs Role Confusion)
In high school I was admitted into the IB Program, due to how much I worked and valued my education throughout K-8. In this program however, I struggled with valuing my GPA more than my health and family (micro), but developed a strong support network at school amongst the other IB students (meso). While we were tight-knit, we were also extremely competitive. In this, I developed my drive to perfect my education and created my then dream of going to medical school. -
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Stage: Intimacy vs Isolation
This is the stage I am currently in today and will be in for the next 14 years. -
Major Event 5: Undergraduate Graduation from UofA (Identity vs Role Confusion)
As I pursued my undergrad education, I realized my calling was not in medicine, like I had planned, but in social work. I found that I wanted to do more than stitch up wounds - I wanted to make a lasting impact on children and families. During this time I was an RA in the dorms and obtained a degree in public health, and intern. This impacts my exo system as well as our micro system as I transitioned from high school student to independent college student and intern. -
Major Event 6: Entering the Social Work Field (Intimacy vs Isolation)
I began working as a case manager, my first professional experience within the field. During, I have struggled with self-care and creating boundaries for work, causing myself to push my relationships with peers and my partner beside. However, I entered myself into CBT to be a healthier person and begin loving myself more so I can be a better companion. The micro (family and friends) and exo (clients) have been impacted by my growth and setbacks professionally and personally.
