Assignment Question
Adolescent Interview Paper Information To gain a better appreciation and understanding of generational differences in adolescence, your assignment is to interview a person of your choice who is at least a generation older or younger than you (about 16 years; they may be your parents, child, relatives, or friends) using the following questions. You are also encouraged to ask additional questions you may have as the conversation unfolds, especially related to Faith Development issues. The paper should be uploaded on Canvas as a WORD document file and be a minimum of 3 full pages, up to maximum of 5 pages, typed and double spaced. Please write the paper in paragraph form, rather than question-answer format. It must be written in APA style formatting (see APA style writing helps on Canvas for a template to imitate) and should include a Title Page (professional version), Abstract, and References Page (to cite our textbook and your 2 scholarly articles). It should have 1” margins and 12-point font and be in Times New Roman font. The following must be included in the paper: 1. A description of your interviewee (age, ethnicity, occupation, etc.) Briefly state where they lived during their adolescence, family composition (living w/ parents, number of siblings, etc.), and school attendance and faith background. 2. In paragraph form, report their responses to your interview questions. Try and primarily paraphrase their answers, although interesting comments may be quoted. 3. Include at least 2 scholarly articles (use Regent Library’s database search tool using the PsychInfo database). The articles should discuss some aspect of adolescent development that is relevant to your interviewee. For example, if the interviewee was bullied and it affected their social or emotional development, include recent scholarly research from peer-reviewed journal articles that discuss the socioemotional toll that bullying can have on adolescents. 4. Conclude your paper by describing your thoughts about the overall similarities and differences between the adolescent experience of your interviewee, and experiences of contemporary adolescents, including yourself, and in relation to Fowler’s Stage 3 of faith development: Synthetic-Conventional. Example Interview Questions: (Remember that you are free to add your own as well) 5. What kinds of things did you do for fun as a teenager? 6. What were your main sources of stress during adolescence and how did you manage the stress? 7. What was dating like when you were a teenager? 8. What was the most rebellious thing you did as a teen? What kinds of punishments did your parents use for you? 9. What kinds of things caused problems for teens at the time (drugs, alcohol, etc.)? 10. What were things like socially in your high school (cliques, etc.)? 11. How was religion a part of your teen years? Did it help, hinder, or affect your development in any way? 12. What was your attitude toward school? What were your options after high school? 13. Do you remember experiencing any kind of peer pressure as a teen? In what way? 14. Did you have a job as a teenager? What was it and how do you feel it impacted your development (for better or worse). 15. What was your relationship like with your parents? 16. What type of music was popular during your teenage years? 17. What were the important social/political issues at the time, and how were teens involved in them? 18. What advice would you give to your younger self? Gary Dillard age 55 originally from Little Rock Arkansas, I asked him why they moved from Little Rock. He said “there were too many blacks, and the crime levels were ridiculous. He said they could not go out of town overnight without their house being broken into”. Gary retired from owning\operating chicken houses and driving a log truck to now working and living on a small farm he inherited after his father’s death in 2019. During his adolescent years he lived with his mother, father, and older half-brother from mothers’ previous marriage. Midway through kindergarten Gary changed schools because excessive punishment by his teacher because he was left-handed. Locking him in a closet momentarily at first then only being let out for lunch and the bathroom once a day and hitting his left hand with a ruler when he would try to write forcing him to write with his right hand. (I want to make note that both schools he attended were prominently white) When his brother was 17 he moved out because him and Gary’s dad didn’t get along. When I asked Gary what he kind of things he did for fun his response was drinking beer and chasing girls. Although I wasn’t chasing girl I drank beer but mostly hung out with friends listening to music, and camping. His main stressors were peer pressure and school. When it came to dating he had the same girlfriend from the 9th grade to senior high school. They broke up for a short time but married shortly after high school. Gary was closest to him mother during his adolescent years because his father worked out of town a lot. He said he wasn’t really rebellious because his parents weren’t that Strick, and he could go and do what he pleased. That there wasn’t much to rebel against.. Some things that cause problem for teens then were drinking and smoking pot. Socially there were your normal cliques the nerds, preppies, and jocks. Because he played every sport he considered himself a jock. When it came to religion neither him nor his family went to church or currently go to church. When asked If he felt like it helped, hindered or affected his development in any way, he responded. It might have made him a better person if he had been more involved. But that he’s not against the idea. He does believe in God. Gary Enjoyed school finding it Challenging and rewarding. He gave up the opportunity to play baseball. To get married. No, any peer pressure he remembers experiencing was drinking and sex. When Gary was in the 5th his 18-year-old cousin had sex with him. He told me he didn’t know what sex was. And it really messed with him. He worked at a buddy’s chicken house gathering eggs. And doing hey. During high school. He says that it helped him. To learn about the value of a dollar. Be appreciative. What he has. Because he earned it. Therefore, he was more hesitant and cautious about the way he spent it. Music that was popular then was. Rock. And country More specifically. Some bands were 38 Special, Alabama and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Garry’s advice to his self would be to slow down and pay attention, try to learn from his mistakes. Like Gary I also grew up in a small town but unlike Gary going to both all white schools my hometown was 75% black. If you were one of the white families it usually meant you came from a well-off family, or your last name had a high reputation in the community. My maiden’s name is Gills, my family-owned Gills reality and forestry service. I lived the majority of my childhood/adolescent bouncing around between my mother, father, and grandparent. I have two older brothers. My homelife was unstable when it came to my mother, my father did the best he could do. I wasn’t close to either parent. For fun we use to ride back roads and listen to music, hang out on the lake all day and camp ride jet skis, fishing, hiking. (I didn’t feel like Gary was very informative on his answers and that they could have been more un debt so if you want to add anything please feel free to do so to mine or his) Some of the main stressors I had to deal with were usually home life with my mother and insecurities about myself among peers that were my main stressors. I managed them by drinking and smoking pot. Dating was non-exiting for me until I was in the 12th grade. I had crushes on boys, but I was skinny and awkward. I was a late bloomer to say the least and didn’t date much. If I did it was usually just hanging out listening to music and talking. I met my oldest son’s dad when I turned 17. I always thought I was pretty rebellious when I was younger, smoking pot was a big deal and I pushed the limits. I got caught by my stepmom when I was 165 for smoking my dads pot and got kicked out of the house. That was a big changing point in my life to date. Other teens that I was around struggled with the same issues. Homelife, parents, peer presser, sex, and drinking, Thing socially were like Garys. There were specific cliques’ nerds, preppies, jocks, but we had skateboarders, and stoners. I wasn’t a misfit, but I didn’t really fit in any one group. I was stoner and advanced for 15 years modern jazz and ballet. Religion was a big part of my adolescent years growing up with a grandfather as a Sothern evangelist I was doctrine from a young age. I can’t really say it helped or hindered my developmental. has it affected me? I’m sure has affected me in some ways. As far as my attitude towards school. I had so much gone on at home that school was the least of my concerns and I also struggle with ADHA, so school has always been a struggle for me. I felt like I was always overlooked and had a lot of insecurities. I didn’t have many options after high school because I got pregnant and dropped out. Peer pressure was typical for me drinking, drugs, sex. I didn’t really have a job as a teenager outside of milking cows during the summer on my stepdad’s dairy farm. I think if I would have worked more as a teenage I would have a better work ethic today. My relationship with my parents wasn’t great, I equally bounced from parent to parent to grandparent throughout my childhood and adolescent years, Music that waws popular were nirvana, pearl jam, Brittney spears, and no doubt. Also techno music was starting to come out. President Clinton and Bush were a big deal. The world trade center was about to be hit by planes. Works Cited Berk, Laura E. Development through the lifespan. Sage Publications, (6th ed.). Pearson, 2017. Fowler, James W. “Faith development at 30: Naming the challenges of faith in a new millennium.” Religious Education 99.4 (2004): 405–421.
