Reflective Essay: How Adolescence Changed My Life

1 Timothy 4-12 states (ESV), “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.” This stage was the most influential stage of growth and development in my life. During adolescent years, healthy development is imperative. In adolescent years, the frontal cortical develops in which contributes to the refinement of reasoning, goal and priority setting, impulse control, and evaluating long and short term rewards (Crews, He, & Hodge, 2007, p. 189). My adolescence years brought much hardship; however, it displayed my strength and resilience. Facing death at this age was not fully understandable. Death was my biggest fear and this fear forever changed my life the day my grandmother passed away rocking my foundation. Still, after 17 years since her passing the tears fall from my eyes every year on her birthday. She was my rock and for many years overcoming this lost seem unattainable. Revelation 21:4 (KJV) says, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are
Shortly after September 11th, the military change and deployment was quickly approaching as it was discussed at work and broadcast on local/nation news. Everyone was ramping up for the serge into a hostile environment. Now the mother of three and pregnant, my husband was deployed to Iraq forcing me to care for my children and give birth alone. Shortly after his return, my unit deployed and faced with the fact of leaving my children with the potential of no return. Currently, my deployment count is four and once to Korea. Each time, service members are forced to disconnect from their family system to avoid an emotional meltdown. One’s emotions could be a determining factor rather they live or die in this