Observation

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:
Name:
Assignment:

#2
FHS 1500-SP16-Jarvis-Web

Background
Childs age:
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name:
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Information
18 (Adolescent: Age 13-18 years)
Heidi

Audrey Lowe
Observation 4

Library
Heidi is in her senior year of high school and is graduating
soon. We discussed her physical, cognitive and emotional
developments.

Physical Development
Nutritional deficiencies result from the food choices that young
adolescents are allowed, even enticed, to make (Berger, 2014, pg. 317).
Heidi is very cautious about her nutrition because she is allergic to milk. She
eats very healthy compared to how she used to when she was younger. Heidi
focuses on eating more homemade foods than processed food. She doesnt
eat a lot of sugar, sweets or candy, so for snacks, she loves to have fresh
fruit or trail mix. She said she tries to drink lots of water or juices. She said
that she takes vitamin B supplement every single night before she goes to
bed, and a multivitamin once a day. She mentioned that she has been trying
to get more physically active, so she tries to get 10,000 steps in a day
average.
As for health wise, Heidi mentioned that she felt like she was a late
bloomer as for puberty. She started her period when she was in 9th grade.
She said I definitely have acne like every other kid my age. Heidi has
naturally curly hair, and said that it has been getting curlier throughout the
years and loves it! She seems to be more confident about her looks that she
was when she was younger, and enjoys that compliments she gets on her
natural hair.
Since puberty alters the entire body, it is almost impossible for
teenagers to welcome every change. Unfortunately, their perceptions are
distorted they tend to focus on and exaggerate the imperfections (Berger,
2014, pg. 317). I asked Heidi how she feels about herself and her response
was, Decent. Good, nice. I have a verily high metabolism. The only thing I
dont like is when I drink milk, I react horribly physically and with my skin.
She mentioned that she doesnt like how white she is because she gets
super sunburned easily.

Cognitive Development
Young adolescents not only think intensely about themselves but also
imagine what others may think about them (Berger, 2014, pg. 326). I asked
Heidi what she thinks about herself and she responded, Now that I am
almost out of high school, I feel like I have learned more of who I am and
what I want to do. I feel like I am a pretty good person. I asked Heidi if she is
concerned about what others think about her, and she told me, No, for the
most part. Because everyone else is concerned about themselves so why do
I need to think that they are thinking about me?
To the puzzlement of many developmentalists, adolescent thought
combines brilliance and foolishness, lofty idealism and crass selfishness.
Some theorists are rightly impressed with the abstract logic that many
teenagers are able to use (Berger, 2014, pg. 324). Heidi is above average
for her age group. She works very hard in school and her grades are great.
She challenges herself by taking higher ranked classes, and college credit
class while still in high school.
Elkind gave names to several aspects of adolescent egocentrism. One
is the personal fable, the belief that one is unique, destined to have a heroic,
even legendary, life (Berger, 2014, pg. 327). Heidi seems to think pretty
positively about her life and what she believes. Many adolescents her age
are very either or about this topic. She believes in coexistence and that
judging does not have a negative connotation even though everyone thinks
that it has one every day. She mentioned that she understands that
everyone has their own thoughts and judgements; that happen daily.
Social/Emotional Development
Heidi thinks that a lot of adolescents her age is stupid because they
are high school students and havent been in the outside world as much;
they still have so much to learn. Heidi is a class office for her high school and
is very social, but is also an introvert. She said, I am not extremely outgoing
but I am very friendly and make people feel welcome.
From a developmental perspective, the fact that high schools
emphasize formal thinking makes sense, since by the later years of
adolescence, many students are capable of attaining that level (Berger,
2014, pg. 339). Heidi is planning on attending Snow College and wants the
full college experience. She plans on staying two years there and also wants
to do a study abroad program in Europe to explore the world while she is
young. She also applied for an ambassadorship at Snow College and has had
several interviews for it. She is very excited about it all!
Heidi relies more on her very close friends and her best friend, as well
as her best friend. She likes to find out who people are, but likes to keep
those who are more important, closer to her. She loves making friends, but

says, it is easier for me to around people who understand me already rather

than to keep making more friends. She is more of an introvert and does
enjoy her time alone. But also loves spending time with her friends and
family often. I asked Heidi if she feels that she is an emotional stable person
and she said, Yes, I have a decent perspective. I cry when needed. I am
good at recognizing and accepted my emotions.
Now it is apparent that many people take much longer to find their
identity and that intimacy needs are often interspersed with identity ones
(Berger, 2014, pg. 408). Heidi has been a couple short-term relationships but
nothing serious. She mentioned that she definitely has an attraction towards
many men, but isnt looking for anything serious right now; just dating for
fun.
Reference List
Berger, K. S. (2014). Invitation to the life span (2nd Ed.). New York, NY: Worth
Publishers.