Emily: A Case Study in Adolescent Development Essay Example

childhood. Typically, girls experience pubescent changes around eight years old due to hormonal shifts like increased estrogen and progesterone levels. These changes lead to enlargement of the uterus and vagina, breast bud development starting at around age 11, growth of pubic hair, increase in weight and height, widening of hips in preparation for menarche (the first menstrual period), which usually occurs at age 12 but varies among individuals. Puberty lasts until age 18 and encompasses both sexual and physical development. Adolescents go through a growth spurt where different body parts grow at different rates; fingers and toes tend to elongate before hands and feet do while arms and legs lengthen before the trunk does. Throughout adolescence, various transformations occur within the body, emotions, and brain. These changes may result in an asymmetrical appearance since different body parts grow at varying rates. Puberty and growth spurts are accompanied by hormonal fluctuations that may trigger sudden displays of anger, sadness or even lust in girls.The limbic system, responsible for intense emotions, matures before the prefrontal cortex where planning and impulse control reside. Consequently, teenagers often act impulsively and disregard caution, particularly in social situations. Adolescence is also a time of increased risk for sexual abuse and early pregnancy due to hormonal changes and engagement in sexual activities. Additionally, this stage is marked by significant brain development and cognitive growth. Teenagers gain more independence but also experience heightened anxiety. According to Jean Piaget's theory, they develop abstract thinking abilities. Furthermore, adolescence frequently involves identity struggles referred to as the conflict between identity and role confusion by Erik Erickson. Erickson believes that teenagers must discover their individuality separate from

their families and as members of society. Failure to navigate this stage successfully can lead to confusion and turmoil. Adolescents establish personal identity through avenues such as religion, politics, talents, and gender by combining childhood experiences, societal expectations, and personal aspirations (Berger, 2011). According to Boddington (2009), achieving individuality is rare for young individuals who are more likely to experience role confusion.

In the specific scenario of attending a coeducational birthday party at a local church's social hall,
Emily stands out among the other girls at the partyEmily stands out among the crowd at the party, as she chooses to dress more casually than her peers. While they are dressed in stylish dresses and heels, with their hair and makeup perfectly done, Emily opts for a different look. She wears blue jeans, a blue and white striped long-sleeved shirt, and boat shoes. Despite having naturally curly hair, Emily straightens it because she personally prefers that style and dislikes wearing dresses.

In terms of physical appearance, Emily is taller than average at 5 feet 6 inches, but her weight of 150 lbs is well-proportioned on her frame. As a preteen girl going through changes like breast development and acne on her face, Emily attends the party held in a dimly lit social hall illuminated by fluorescent lights. The music playing from the speakers syncs with bright blue, red, and green flashing lights. A DJ tries to encourage the twenty-eight eleven and twelve-year-olds to join the only two boys already dancing on the dance floor.

The room is divided into two groups: girls standing near metal folding chairs along one wall while boys gather near a stage at the opposite end

of the room. Emily's mother, Elizabeth, is present as a chaperone at the party. Throughout half an hour, Elizabeth attempts three times to persuade Emily to join in on the dancing fun. Ignoring her mother's first two attempts, Emily finally mouths "stop" across the room during Elizabeth's third try.

Later in the party when a popular song starts playing, several girls rush joyfully onto the dance floor including Emily herself.Emily enthusiastically joins her female friends and dances continuously for about an hour without leaving their side, except for occasional chats. Eventually, they are called over to have birthday cake and watch as presents are opened. While eating, Emily socializes with both her female and male friends.

On St. Patrick's Day, Emily wore a bracelet because she didn't have any green clothing in her closet this year. In her bedroom, there is a poster of One Direction hanging on the wall - her favorite band. The room is neat and organized, with shelves filled with books and a desk covered in school supplies.

The living room floor is scattered with Wade's toys - evidence of their playful sibling relationship. Overall, Emily's home reflects her active and vibrant personality. The household sofa has a blue and violet fleece cover along with a fuzzed cordate fuchsia pillow that says "Drama Queen" - Emily's favorite pillow.

Moving into the long narrow hallway, Emily's bedroom is the first room on the left. Her door remains open but has a handmade foam door hanger hanging from the doorknob that reads "Do Not Enter". Inside her bedroom, it is decorated in pink and white with patterns of black and grey. Her bed displays hot pink sheets

underneath a wrinkly black and white polka dot comforter.In Emily's bedroom, the walls are decorated with images of her favorite singers, Cody Simpson and Selena Gomez. Taking up a significant amount of space on the floor is a large bean bag chair. Along one wall, there is a bookcase that stretches its entire length. On the opposite side of the room, there is a keyboard and microphone stand for Emily's passion for singing. She enjoys using her karaoke machine to sing along with her favorite artists.

To the right of her bed hangs a framed piece of art that Emily claims she completed in 3rd grade. The artwork depicts a boy seemingly trapped inside an underwater glass room. According to Emily, she used prefiguration when creating this piece.

Emily confidently states that her talents in dance, photography, drawing, painting, and music do not hold any underlying meanings. Proudly displayed are three dance trophies and a second-place prize she received for youth photography at last year's South Carolina Festival of Flowers.

As Emily retrieves several pieces of artwork from her cupboard and explains the age at which each piece was completed, it becomes evident that she has an artistic side. However, before delving further into her artwork discussion, Emily receives a text message notification on her cell phone.

For the next 15 minutes or so, she engages in texting back and forth with her friend Jenny about room arrangements for an upcoming school trip to Philadelphia.Emily excitedly shares information about her upcoming trip, mentioning that it will be the longest time she has been away from home. She mentions staying in a hotel room on the third floor with three

female friends, while the boys stay on the second floor. As Emily is leaving, she receives another text message but says goodbye without looking up from her cell phone.

In an interview with Elizabeth, who is now 32 years old and has two children, it is revealed that Emily was born on December 10th, 1999 via cesarean section after completing a full-term pregnancy when Elizabeth was only 19 years old. Elizabeth's prenatal period and labor were free from complications or issues.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (2000), Emily weighed 7 lbs and 11 ounces at birth and measured twenty-one inches in length. These measurements placed her weight in the 36th percentile among newborns and her height in the 93rd percentile.

Elizabeth proudly confirms that she breastfed Emily for seven months and states that Emily achieved all her developmental milestones ahead of schedule, including puberty which began around nine years old. Unfortunately, Elizabeth has no relationship with Emily's father as he has never been involved in their lives nor have they met each other.Elizabeth and the person mentioned in the text attended college together and were casually dating. However, when Elizabeth became pregnant, he wanted nothing to do with her. She temporarily paused her education to focus on raising their child, but promptly returned to complete her degree in marketing from a local college by the time their child turned three years old. Currently employed as a communications manager for a major hotel chain, Elizabeth earns an annual salary of $43,000 without any additional income sources.

Raised Catholic during her early years, Elizabeth drifted away from her faith during adolescence and is now actively involved in a Presbyterian

church within their community.

As a parent, Elizabeth takes great pride in her role and emphasizes the strong bond she shares with both of her children. She holds high expectations for them as they grow up. Her relationship with Emily has grown stronger since Emily started middle school. Trust is important to Elizabeth, and she wants her children to feel comfortable confiding in her about anything.

Elizabeth is strict when it comes to discipline, especially at school. She expects Emily to excel academically without any behavioral problems.

According to Elizabeth, being a great parent involves commanding respect, establishing open communication based on trust, and having clear expectations.Reflecting on her own experience as a parent, she advises new parents to cherish every moment and not take time for granted. She also emphasizes the importance of self-care and open communication with their children, using personal life experiences to teach valuable lessons. This approach helps children develop respect and trust for their parents.

In terms of Emily's physical development, she is almost 13 years old and measures five feet six inches in height. Her weight is 150 pounds, putting her at the 90th percentile for weight according to the Centers for Disease Control (2000). Additionally, she is taller than most peers as her height exceeds the 90th percentile. Despite these differences in size compared to others her age, Emily's mother notes that she reached developmental milestones earlier than her peers starting from infancy.

Currently going through puberty, which is normal for her age group, Emily has developed breasts and started having regular menstruation. However, according to her mother, Emily is not sexually active and therefore not at risk for early pregnancy.

Regarding cognitive development,

Emily demonstrates typical progress for a 12-year-old girl. She strongly desires independence from her mother as shown by her excitement about an upcoming school trip to Philadelphia.This trip provides an opportunity for Emily to assert her independence and showcase her decision-making abilities in the absence of her mother. In terms of cognitive development, Emily's decision to use a hair iron for a recent birthday party demonstrates her dissatisfaction with her natural curly hair, indicating discomfort with certain aspects of herself. Additionally, she actively cultivates her own identity by selecting comfortable clothing rather than conforming to societal norms. Emily also displays a deep interest and involvement in art, music, and photography. While many of her peers engage in sports and cheerleading, Emily finds fulfillment in pursuing her unique interests. Overall, she exemplifies healthy progression as a typical 12-year-old girl who confidently embraces independence while remaining socially responsible (Berger, 2011; Boddington, 2009; Goncu & Abel, 2011).

In 2007, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers Inc., located in Lanham MD, published a book titled "The Child’s Construct of the Universe: A 20th-Century Classic of Kid Psychological Science." This book spans 432 pages and is valued at ?19.99 or ˆ31.48.
The article "Infant & Child Development" by Berger et al. (n.d.) can be found in volume 20, issue number 2 on pages 246-248 with the DOI: doi:10.1002/icd.719.

In 2010, Milstead and Perkins published a study titled "Family Structure Characteristics and Academic Success: Supporting the Work of School Counselors" in the journal "Academic Leadership" (ISSN: 15337812), specifically in volume 8, issue number 4, on page number 19.

On May 30, 2000, the National Center for Disease Control and Prevention released CDC growth charts. These charts can

be accessed at http://www.Center for Disease Control and Prevention.gov/growthcharts/data/set1clinical/cj41c022.pdf.