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I definitely went through that "awkward stage" that people often talk about with puberty. I was in ballet for 7 years, and as I began to experience puberty, dance became hard for me. I no longer felt that the strain on my body was worth it, as I also had many new activities opening up. I started marching band and furthered my theatre career, which was more suited to my physical capacities at the time. I struggled with knee pain, sprained ankles, and hip pain that just did not bode well with dance, as well as mental health issues from staring in a mirror for three hours every day comparing myself to the other girls around me. Theatre helped me through the biological changes of puberty because I was able to identify with the characters I was cast as and get to know myself better through the eyes of whatever character I was portraying at the time.

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My senior year of high school, I was section leader for the trumpets in my band. I had to help new marchers on the field and in with their music sectionals throughout the entire marching band season, as well as throughout the pep band and concert band season in the spring. I not only had to think about my technique on and off of the field, but I had to be in a position of leadership and be a shoulder for the underclassmen to lean on. This shifted my focus from a state of mind in which I looked out for my needs to one of that in which I took care of those around me when I needed to do so. In all honesty, my cognitive transitions took place throughout the entire four years I was in marching band, as we all have to think and act as a single unit, so looking out for others was nothing new when I became section leader. As of 2023, I became the section leader for the Bedford High School Marching band, fulfilling the same duties with high school students alongside wonderful co-section leaders. Band definitely impacted my cognitive changes for the better.

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I have never been interested in having children. What I have always dreamed of doing is getting married, staying home to clean, do laundry, and cook meals for my husband. In the discussion regarding Adolescents' Views of Themselves, I can 100% get behind the specific partner roles that are no longer very prominent in today's society. I am very old fashioned in the respect that even though I have no desire to be a mother, I have always wanted to take on the role of a housewife. In Chapter 3 on page 244, the surveys of contemporary youth show that 14% of adolescents think it is important to become parents, which I do think is sad, but I hate living in a society where I feel obligated to have kids. I feel even worse that the reason is simply that I don't like them, but I know this would not make me a good mother. I think it is important to find someone to spend the rest of your life with, but the surveys conducted among contemporary youth say that only 17% feel getting married is necessary.

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The section Transformations in Family Relations in Chapter 4 stuck out to me. As discussed on page 293, there comes a time where parents and adolescents gain an equal footing and share a balance of power. Things between my parents and I aren't always fun, but I think that comes as a product of still living at home during college. However, I have worked in an authority role alongside both of my parents, and both experiences have been wonderful. I work as the trumpet section leader for my dad's high school marching band, and he has always trusted my judgement when leading the section, which he never fails to remind me of when I second guess myself. I have also been the director's assistant for one of my mom's fall plays, and we work great together. Growing up under the direction of both of my parents has helped me to work alongside them in many capacities, as noted in the section Changes in the Balance of Power.

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In chapter 5, it is discussed on page 360 that adolescence marks the emergence of larger collective peers. I can definitely relate to this, as I have such a large group of theatre friends from so many shows, companies, and age groups. I am currently in the rehearsal process for a show where our company has been selected to represent Ohio in the next round this March. While this cast has by far been the most easy to make friends in and everyone seems to get along relatively well with each other, there are definitely a group of us that gel the best with each other. As mentioned on page 362, some cliques are more open to outsiders, which I think perfectly describes our cast. There are about 10 of us out of the 30 or so that get along the best and have been hanging out at our competitions. We currently have a group chat trying to figure out hotel arrangements, and we keep adding more people because we had so much fun the last time we traveled together for the weekend.

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While I have been involved with theatre my entire life, there have been many instances in which I was unsure that it was really my calling. In this past year, I have learned that the stage is definitely where I feel the most called to be. Steinberg writes, "problems in self-image may arise for a brief period during early adolescence" (pg. 590). I struggled in theatre for a bit due to the fact that I had never really gotten a lead role. While ensemble trolls are essential for developing the skills necessary for stepping into a lead role, I always questioned my abilities. However, I have had many opportunities in lead roles over the past four years, and for that I am extremely grateful. I wish that I had the guts to pursue theatre for a living. I still have issues with my identity in that respect, as I often struggle thinking of careers for myself that don't include the arts, but I feel obligated to be in college and to pursue a career that will be more reliable down the road.

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I was not allowed to work during high school, as my parents have always taught me that school is my job. I spent my time participating in dance, band, and theatre. I did not start working until after I graduated high school, and even now I try to limit my hours during the school year so I can focus on homework. In chapter 7, Steinberg states that with a job, "Many students benefit from learning how to manage their time effectively." (pg. 514) Even though I did not have a job during the school year, I was still involved in enough extracurriculars that I was able to learn time management skills and stay in control of what occupied my time. I lettered in band, choir, and in honors studies. As for leisure time, I learned how to crochet when I was 16 and have made many gifts and personal items since then. I was never really obsessed with social media, but my parents and I watched tv together most nights, and we still do. While Steinberg writes that "adolescence is a time of heightened peer pressure" (pg. 526), I have never really felt the need to spend my time outside partying and have always preferred a cozy night in crocheting, watching tv, and spending time with my cat and a few friends.

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Page 469 of Chapter 6 discusses the importance of how much students enjoy going to school depending on the way they feel their teachers care about them. I was fortunate enough to have very good teachers throughout the years, but the relationship formed between band/choir directors and their students always seems to be the most notable to me. It is also discussed on page 469 that classroom climate promoting cooperation between the students rather than competition helps students flourish, which is exactly what band did for me. There were still aspects of band that were competitive, but they were never really as important as the way we were taught to work as a one functioning unit. Having students as drum majors encouraged independence throughout the band, providing us with structure and support from both our peers and our directors. Band teaches a lot more than most students think, but the nicest part was that it never felt like a class, so my day always felt complete when 12:30 hit and I got to make music with so many talented individuals rather than sitting and listening to boring lectures. The lessons I learned in band will forever contribute to my sense of independence, ability to work under pressure, and the way I work with others in a group setting.