Personal Adult Life

The purpose of this paper is to explore my personal journey through adult development, while incorporating Erikson’s 8 stages of developmental theory. It will take you on a brief introduction through my childhood up to my young adulthood. Touching on some of the trials and tribulations I have encountered and how they have contributed to my resilience’s. How my life’s journey has caused influenced my desire to obtain a career in criminal psychology Concluding, with the goals that success in grad school will help me attain in the remainder of my life.Life is filled with many twist and turns, up and downs. It is up to us the individual what we learn along life’s journey. People will come into our lives and help guide and changes us as well as the lessons, trials, and tribulations we all encounter. Although we have no control over fate, we do have power over our â€Å"driving skills†, and could thus widen or narrow our chance for a smooth, prosperous jo urney. It is beneficial to remember that we are not alone and that we all take this journey into adulthood.Most prominently, no matter how harsh the terrain of the road becomes, we just have to remember that we will pull through and be transformed for the better because of it. I believe that it is my optimistic philosophy that I’ve adopted which has been much solace to me in my own journey in becoming the level headed young woman I am today. It was not at all easy. However, I have been blessed with a great support system and environment. My childhood I learned a lot and matured faster than most of my friends. During what Erikson called the play age 3 to 5 my mom gave birth to my little brother. I wasn’t too happy about this.It is during this Learning to initiative vs Guilt this is where Erikson believed the healthy developing child learns to imagine, through all sorts of fantasy, cooperate with others, to lead as well as follow, fearful and continues to depend on adult s and is still restricted both in development of play skills and in imagination. (Erikson, E. H. , 1963). At first I wanted to try and hid my brother in the closet. My mom said I had a pretty good imagination and a ball of a good time with myself but I also made friends very easy. One of the hardest times in my life occurred two weeks before my 11th birthday.My father was killed. This is during Erikson’s stage known as School age, where he believed it is during this time where children learn to master the more formal skills of life. Such as relating to peers according to rules, progressing from free play to play that may be elaborating structured by rules and may demand formal teamwork, mastering social studies, reading and the necessity of homework. Erikson stated that the child who trust because of his successive and successful resolutions of earlier psychosocial crises is trusting and autonomous, and full of initiative will learn easily enough to be industrious (Erikson, E . H. , 1963). I had a hard time with this because my friends had both of their parents around and I couldn’t understand why I had my father taken away from me.The following year wasn’t that much easier for me. 2 days before my 12th birthday my mom was involved in a serious car wreck and was almost killed During Identity versus role years age 12 to 18 I went through a great deal of things. This stage Erikson believes that a successful early adolescence aquires self certainty as opposed to self consciousness and self doubt. During this time clear sexual identity is established and develops a set of ideals (Erikson, E. H. , 1963). You could say that this is where I really learned that life will keep throwing things at you and you have to learn how to roll with the punches. Starting off with my mom’s wreck at 12, at the age of 16 I was in an abusive relationship and was raped by my boyfriend at the time. My abuse, for example, had brought me much self-loathing, but then I realized I was able to get out and get out alive and this is where I really made the choice where I refused to be bullied in to silence and allow others to make me a victim. I felt each time I fell; I was obliged to obtain strength in order to rise.Thus each time I rose, I was a little stronger than before. During young adulthood 18 to 35 Intimacy & Solidarity verses Isolation I have done my most growing of finding out who I am. Erikson believes that during this stage The successful young adult, for the first time , can experience true intimacy- the sort of intimacy that makes possible good marriage or a genuine and enduring friendship. (Erikson, E. H. , 1963). I dated a guy who is actually my best friend now for seven years, we moved to Vegas and then realized things were not going to work.I wanted to focus more on school and eventually the family life but I gained a great friendship out of the seven years together. I met some of my best girl friends during these years. Vall iant added a stage which he calls Career Consolidation this is where he insists that adult education should help adults live better. He felt that educators help guide learners in better life style directions through education and counseling (Vaillant,G.. & Mukamal, K 2001). I personally have to say that I agree and have always been taught early on that an education is something that no one can take away from you.While during this stage of my life I have had some serious health problems. I have had cyst removed from my left breast which they later found out were in the beginning stages of cancer. I have had to have my gallbladder removed and found out that I have Celica disease. The one positive trait that had proved to be highly efficient in boosting me out of these pits is ambition. I know that too much of it could corrupt a person, but so far it had only empowered my spirit with much-needed optimism.My greatest ambitions is to become a criminal profiler or help start a victim†™s voice program and help counsel abused women; therefore every hardship and pain to me befits an inspiration a way for me to be able to connect with others and their hardships. It has been my optimistic perception of things, that have succored me through my many phases of emotional turmoil. Although this journey had been difficult and even toilsome at times, I pulled through. One of the merits that I have acquired from my past experiences is strength.Strength in mind and spirit is like steel, and the most sublime of its quality can only be heated through suffering each . Another lesson that I’ve learned through my journey up to this point is to appreciate all that life has to offer. Life is short, and my road could abruptly come to a halt at anytime. Thus it is prominent to savor each and every moment of it by focusing on the positive things. My struggles and desolation have procured me to value what I have in order to overcome depression. My family, friends, and other for tunate events in my life have been lights in times of darkness, eminding me that the world is not completely forlorn and bleak. Optimism, along with strength, is all that I need to carry on. And thus I go forth on this journey with the memories of all the people and places I’ve left behind. I know that as long as I possess a goal, I will never be lost. My goal is to become a successful graduate student obtaining my Masters in Psychology with specialization in Criminal Justice and Victomology. I hope to maybe one day work with the FBI and possible become a Criminal Profiler. It had been a most arduous but rewarding journey. My friends and family, especially my father, had made this journey much easier†¦All of these allies and resources have presented me with guidance in the right course. The bumps and craters that I’ve met along my journey held a large role in constituting the person that I am now. I have fallen so many times into the seemingly abyss of despair and struggled against the mirror for just a speck of self-esteem, but I have survived. I understand that there will be greater obstacles and barriers in the future, but I personally believe that pain is a thing to be prized. Someone who does not know pain would not appreciate joy, nor would he obtain the strength to make his journey worthwhile