Physical Development

My age and physical development matches the adolescent’s category. Itis the period of life from about age 13 to the early twenties, during which a young person is no longer physically a child but is not yet an independent, self-supporting adult (Ciccarelli & Meyer, 2006, p.274). My numerical age and development is twenty years old. Starting in my adolescence stage, I have grown a beard, have grown taller, gained more weight and have also have developed more muscle. Cognitively, according to (Piaget, 2006, P. 275) the cognitive development is less noticeable then the physical development but still represents a major change in the way adolescents think about themselves, their peers and relationships, and the world around them. Teenagers begin to think about hypothetical situations leading to a picture of what an ideal world would be like. For example, I have applied for jobs and the job application says I need experience in that field. How do I get that job when I haven’t experienced anything that qualifies me for that job? In an ideal world a job application wouldn’t require experience in the field; it would require an interest to learn what that field will offer. Adolescence is when you start thinking outside the box, you are beginning to problem solve and you are becoming independent. With Kohlbergs three levels of morality, I am in the level of conventional morality. The rule for conventional morality is social norms is right; and nonconformity is wrong (Kohlberg, 2006, P. 277). Even though the Wisconsin state law states the legal drinking age is 21, society’s norm is around 18. Most adolescents conform to that norm. Has my adulthood begun? I believe that I have because I have graduated from high school which signifies to me that I am an adult. Accor ding to (Ciccarelli & Meyer, 2006, p.279) adulthood can be divided into at least three periods: young adulthood, middle age, and late adulthood. Physical changes in young adulthood are usually relatively minimal. The good news is that the twenties are a time of peak physical health, sharp senses, and mature cognitive abilities. For example, my vision is 20/20, I still have all of my hair, and I have all of my teeth. The only negative aspect is that I have congenital hearing loss in both of my ears. Cognitively I am still developing. Referring back to Ericksons psychosocial adolescent and adult stages, my development is in the adolescence stage. Adolescents are faced with deciding who or what they want to be in terms of occupation, beliefs, attitudes, and behavior patterns (Erickson, 2006, P. 281). I am still searching for an occupation I would like to get into. I have no real beliefs or attitudes. I do know the difference between right and wrong but I generally blend in with my peers. In my life experience, before graduating from high school, my class decided to “teepee” the school. I knew it was the wrong thing to do but I did it anyway to fit in with my peers. The consequence was that I felt obligated to pay my fine while others fought it in court. After reading the theories of aging, the cellular clock theory, the wear and tear theory, the free radical theory and the activity theory. I’ve come to the conclusion that if one leads an active life both physically and mentally they should live a happy life and be healthy. Does it really matter if the cells are wearing out? Not if one is living life to his fullest, whatever that might be. When my dad became ill, my junior year of high school, I think he faced the possibility of death months before his lung cancer was ever diagnosed. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross wrote about (Kubler-Ross, 1977) stages of the death and dying. The stage of denial probably was when my dad was deer-hunting in November of 2005, when he stated he couldn’t catch his breath. He knew something was wrong but he wasn’t sure what it was, so perhaps he waited thinking it might disappear. The stage of anger could have been at any time during that winter because he became angry easily. I think now, his oxygen levels were probably low and his cognitive abilities decreased making him tired, impatient and angry at times. The stage of bargaining, I don’t know if Dad went through that stage because by the time the lung cancer was diagnosed, he died 11 days later. Acceptance took place several hours after Mom and Dad told the cancer doctor that chemotherapy was not an option for a stage four lung cancer. He then gave instructions to Mom for one and a half days. Dad gave my brothers, Mom and I a lot of insight before he died. Finally, Dad told Mom, “I hope I die with dignity.” He did.