Class/Section: FHS 1500

Your name: Clariss Chau

Assignment: Observation #4
Background Information
Childs age: 18 years old
Fictitious name: Anna
Location: In the lobby of Oquirrh Dialysis
Brief Description: Anna is 18 years old, I had met Anna for the first time as she was
picking up her relative from dialysis and asked her kindly if she would let me interview
her for this specific assignment.
Physical Development
During my interview with Anna she was very warm and open with the questions
being asked. At first, I asked Anna if she had remembered when her body was going
through physical changes. As Anna was trying to recall her memory of her body
undergoing physical changes I had emphasized examples such as: puberty, growth spurt,
menarche (menstrual cycle).
First physical development that she remembered her body forgoing was the
physical development of her breasts. She had explained to me that she had noticed that
her breasts were beginning to enlarge. I had asked her at what age this physical change
was happening and she recalled that it happened around 6th grade (11/12 years old). Anna
seemed to be: a year or two behind according to the approximate age breast bud
stage beginning at age 10. (Berger, 2011. Pg. 320)
Second physical development that she had recalled was, being taller than her
other friends. Anna comes from a Pacific Islander family. She laughed saying, She was
as tall as the boys in her class. This example explains a growth spurt. According to the
textbook a growth spurt is, The relatively sudden and rapid physical growth that
occurs during puberty. Each body part increases in size on a schedule: Weight usually
precedes height, and growth of the limbs precedes growth of the torso. (Berger, 2011.
Pg. 320) Anna laughs and says, It went a little something like that.
Cognitive Development
Anna had moved often due to her parents divorce that occurred during her Junior
High years. Anna had moved for a total of three times. She had explained that this was
one of the most difficult times for her. Relocating to three different schools within a
period of three years made her think of her appearance before anything else. I then asked
Anna, How has your thinking changed since then? She explains that, She does not
care what people think now. In Junior High that was all I thought about constantly. I had
to pick out what I was going to wear for school the next day and decide how I was going
to do my hair because the opinion of what others that of me what crucial. This is an
example of, imaginary audience. According to the textbook, imaginary audience is
defined as, Other people who, in an adolescents egocentric belief, are watching and
taking note of his or her appearance, ideas, and behavior. This belief makes many
teenagers very self-conscious. (Berger, 2011. P. 333)

Anna also adds that her way of thinking has changed now that she is an adult her
way of thinking has changed because her actions can now constitute for consequences
especially with the law. I asked Anna if she could go into further detail with what she
had meant by that. Anna then reminisces on her memories of being, young and reckless
I laughed and said, You are still young. She replies, Im young but not as reckless.
She then tells me about a fun memory of her and her friends staying out late one night.
Her friends took an old mattress and hooked it in the back of her friends truck and went
to a remote area full of mud and hung on to the mattress with several of her other friends
as her other friend was driving. They would continuously take turns on who rides on the
mattress. She laughs as says, I would never do that now, but man that was one of the
best memories I will forever cherish. Anna explains that she had authoritative parents
both in which set curfews and knew most of her friends. This explains that Annas
prefrontal cortex is still developing. According to the textbook, Many adults are driven
by the excitement of new experiences and sensations-forgetting the caution that their
parents have tried to instill. (Berger, 2011 pg. 331)
Social/Emotional Development
I had asked Anna now that she was 18 years old to explain herself in one
sentence. She replied, I am confidant and a child of God. This had brought me back to
the discussion we had in class previously. When asked to describe yourself in one
sentence everyone has at least: religion, personality, and political, vocational or sexual
identity in their sentence. According to the textbook, Erikson explains that there are,
Four arenas of Identity Formation. (Berger, 2011 pg. 357)
Growing up Anna was very close with her family. Now that she is an adult, the
bond with her family has increased significantly. Although, her parents are divorced she
explains, She loves them both regardless. At the time of the divorce, she explains she
felt bitterness towards one parent, which resulted in bickering. Communication at the
time was insignificant, support was present within both parents, connectedness was
broken but often she found herself connecting with both parents differently and
cohesively and control was present within both parents. (Berger, 2011 pg.358) Now
speaking, Anna could not be more pleased with her closeness with her family. I chose
Anna specifically because I see her three times a week because she is the sole
transportation for her relative that is currently on dialysis. She ends our conversation
with, I will do anything and everything for my family because we are family.
Reference List
Berger, K. S. (2014). Invitation to the Life Span (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Worth
Publishers.