Ages 11-18 years old.

 

"Puberty leads to an adult-sized body and sexual maturity. Thought becomes abstract and idealistic and school achievement more serious.  Adolescents focus on defining personal values and goals and establishing autonomy from family" (Berk, 2013, p. 6).

For my, adolescence was a time to find myself through exploring my identity through the relationships I shared with other people.  During this time, especially towards the beginning of adolescence, fitting in and spending time with friends was of utmost importance.  Because of the emphasis I placed on fitting in with my peers, there were some relationships that I had in early and middle childhood that were put on the backburner due to my yearning for acceptance.  It was not until the end of adolescence that I realized how emotionally detrimental that abandonment could have been to those friends.

 

During adolescence I also experienced a huge shift in my emotions.  It was during this time that my mother and I did not  get along (I now realize this was because of me, not her).  During this time I was extremely moody due to the hormonal changes and the stress that was happening in my personal life.  During adolescence my father was placed into a nursing home which  changed the dynamic of the household immensely, though I believe it helped to mend my relationship with my mother more quickly (I believe I had to mature faster because of this experience)

 

I don't envy any adolescent, and I'm going to work hard to remember tat when I have children of my own.