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This stage supports the idea that the relationship the infant has with their caregivers can depict how they might portray the world earlier on, whether this identifies as feeling safe in their environment or gain insecurity amongst their surroundings. As long as the baby gains trust, they are able to accept the world in a welcoming mindset whereas lack of connection with the baby could lead to insecurity. According to Erikson, "infancy was a critical time for developing a first trusting relationship," though studies have made observation and came to the position that there is always room for improvement. (McDevitt, 2019)

My mother raised me along with my grandparents and other family members. I always had the resources I needed in order to function into a healthy baby. My mother also frequently worked, so when I wasn't with her, I was with my grandparents. I was able to gain trust amongst my surroundings since I knew that a simple cry would always catch their attention.

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The Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt stage emphasized decency in toddlers in terms of movement and handling object on their own. They begin to dress themselves and even wash their hands. When parents or caregivers give the child the freedom to explore in this important stage of development, the child gains independence and becomes confident in their ability to solve problems; However, lack of support and forceful demands will input a sense of doubt whenever the child is faced with certain obstacles. This stage is especially vital in terms of improvement with toddlers for it allows them to "become capable of satisfying their own needs." (McDevitt, 2019)

My mother stated how she gave me the freedom to play on my own as well as explore my surroundings. I would attempt to pour my own drinks even if it included spills. I also enjoyed playing with building blocks and creating towers. My mother would take me on occasional walks to the park where she would allow me to walk around and swing on the bucket swings for infants. I was able to gain a sense of autonomy during this stage since I had the freedom to get to know my body and how it works while also being trusted by my surroundings to take on simple tasks without being criticized.

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In the Initiative vs. Guilt stage, children gain a sense of purpose and know that the world is a safe place for them. If encouraged by parents and caregivers, they are freely able to flex their abilities in various activities. They begin to think of new ideas and use imaginative play to express how they might view their own reality. It is also stated in chapter 4 "that young children show initiative in conversation, everyday tasks, and play." (McDevitt, 2019) When children are discouraged, they end up developing guilt when expressing themselves making them more insecure in their decision making.

I was an expressive child who confidently engaged in conversation even if I was clueless on what was being discussed. I had an imaginative mind always taking part in fantasy play with my dolls. In my head I always visioned something greater than me which made me all the more joyful. I was also a storyteller creating endless pictures in my head and drawing them out on blank canvases. I gained initiative since I was always encouraged by my mother to test out new ideas. She would also take part in allowing me to grow during this time as she would play dolls with me or build puzzles.

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The fourth stage of development is Industry vs. Inferiority which is mainly associated with children aged 6-10. During this stage there is a lot of reflection and responsibility. Children connect their achievements to how much attention they receive from adults. Not receiving any sort of recognition could lead to a negative perception of themselves. Between gaining recognition of their accomplishments and punished for not meeting certain expectations, "...children compare their own abilities to those of peers and lose confidence when they come up short in domains that they value." (McDevitt, 2019)

At age 6-10, I wasn't necessarily interested in specific hobbies. Every single day I would gain a new interest in something new whether it be the piano, basketball, roller skating, or even dancing. I was an expressive child and endured in many adventures amongst all of my tiny hobbies and my family had always supported me. My biggest worries were being shut out as soon as my siblings were born, but in the end, I had nothing to worry about. The love and attention I received from my mother and family members were about the same amount I received even before my siblings were born. This allowed me to be confident in my skills and never doubt my abilities hence me gaining a sense of industry.

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In the Identity vs. Role Confusion stage, adolescents are seeking ways to find their identity. They're trying to figure out who they exactly are and how they fit into this big world amongst a variety of different people who are interested in different things. Adolescents mostly adventure through finding out their identity by taking initiative in subjective conversations such as controversial issues and look at the world in a much broader aspect; However, not all adolescents are able seek identity so early. For some adolescents it takes more than just engaging in conversation to figure out their identity. Support and proper guidance also play an important role in how much confidence a child has in themselves in order to attempt to find or even express their true identity. Most adolescents even experience role confusion which has now been decided to extend for a longer period than Erikson proposed. (McDevitt, 2019)

In the Identity vs. Role Confusion stage, majority of my adolescent years were spent on taking care of my younger siblings. The little free time I had was spent by watching over them to make sure they wouldn't fight or prepare lunches while my mother would work. It was a challenge to understand exactly who I was when all I wanted at the end of the day was to be alone. I hardly ever wanted to be alone with my thoughts which made it a struggle to balance between who I was and what I wanted. It was a critical time where I was the most selfless I could possibly be. School was also a challenge for me as well as I tried my best to fit in with other kids. I knew I had hobbies and interests that gained attraction to many crowds, but they weren't exactly what connected me with my peers. It was less about finding a piece of me that I found similar in others and more about how I felt to be me and if I was confident enough with being myself even without others validation. In high school, I was constantly indecisive, not knowing what would satisfy me unless I tested it out; For example, dying my hair was a major part of expressing my identity. Even if I didn't figure myself out along the way, it felt like a major accomplishment to take such a risk I never thought I could do.

Being close to the last age of this stage, I consider myself associated more with Role confusion. Though I have a basis of my interests and what I believe in, I currently continue to deal with the effects of not being properly guided enough in order to explore outside my comfort zone.

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Experiencing intimate relationships is an important part of the Intimacy vs. Isolation stage. This can also be directed to any relationship that holds a certain accountability between both parties including close friendships, relationship with family members, and spouses. If identity was sought through during adolescence, they are ready to create strong relationships with others. The consequence to this outcome is the lack of depth in connection with others, making it more challenging to form trustful relationships. Though this stage of development is mostly associated with young adulthood, critics have also suggested that "being closely connected with others is a human quality that transcends any single period." (McDevitt, 2019)

Though I haven't made it to this stage yet, I hope to achieve intimacy rather than isolation. Majority of my childhood I was always encouraged by family members, but as the developmental process goes on, relationships are hard to define. When it comes to creating relationships outside of family, it's a more constructive process which includes creating boundaries, getting to know each other better, etc. It is also a struggle for me to open up to people, even if they are close friends which is something that I am constantly working on. In the end, I hope to create meaningful connections with people who are like-minded and whom I can easily trust. Someone whom I can turn to when I am in need. I strive for a positive relationship with someone, whether it be friendship or romantical, where we always consider each other's feelings and care about one another.

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Most adults use the Generativity vs. Stagnation stage to reflect on their past experiences. People experiencing generativity often engage in activities that offer a positive contribution to their society or just their overall community. With stagnation, the lack of growth can create a sense of emptiness and make the person feel stuck in life. Compared to those feeling the positive effects of generativity, those affected by stagnation don't feel completely satisfied with their position in life preventing them from viewing the world with an optimistic viewpoint. The main issue with this theory is that Erikson believed that "men were primarily concerned with their careers and women with parenting their children."(McDevitt, 2019.) However, that is not the case considering that more women are in the workforce today compared to the past.

In this stage I hope to achieve Generativity. I want to play a helpful role in society and be that helpful figure in someone's life. Though it isn't clear to see now, I am hopeful that I will be a kind and warm person who people can easily share their concerns with. My goal is to also have a stable career that involves helping others who are in need.

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Integrity vs. Despair is the stage where a person reflects on their past experiences. They either believe they have lived a fulfilled life or instead feel a sense of regret for lack of achieved goals and other scenarios that might affect someone's progress in life. As stated in chapter 4, "older adults also tackle many other developmental tasks, including finding ways to cope with losses and make the best of their later years." (McDevitt, 2019)

I hope to look back at my past and with integrity and pride. I believe that our experiences shape who we are and there are lots of factors that are prone to determining that. I don't want my career or goals to be an emphasis on how I should feel about my life. Yes, it can be nice to spend your life doing something you enjoy or where you are financially blessed, but I would much rather be blessed surrounded by loved ones and people who care about my well-being regardless of my status. In the end, the close relationships I've shared with people are most important to me and I hope they will stay by my side until the end.