Adolescence Collage by

Cognitive Transitions

abigailwhite17 — 2025-02-08 02:55:13 UTC

For my Cognitive Transitions artifact, I chose the song "I’ll Follow You" by Jonathan Traylor.

The song "I’ll Follow You" is a contemporary Christian song that explores themes of guidance, trust, and personal growth. It talks about the commitment to follow a guiding force even when the path is uncertain, which I find meaningful for this assignment.

Explanation and Connection to Cognitive Transitions:

I connect this song to cognitive transitions because it reflects how individuals, especially adolescents and young adults, change the way they think, reason, and make decisions. Cognitive transitions describe the process where young people begin to think more abstractly, consider different perspectives, and make decisions based on values and personal beliefs rather than just immediate desires.

In adolescence, we start to move beyond concrete thinking and begin to think more about our future, goals, and the bigger picture. The lyrics of “I’ll Follow You” remind me of how we start to make decisions not just based on what’s right in front of us but by trusting a deeper sense of purpose or guidance. The idea of following something greater than ourselves reflects the cognitive shift from relying on external influences to developing an internal compass for making decisions. To me, this song symbolizes the cognitive transition of moving from a more simplistic way of thinking to one that’s guided by personal conviction and a greater understanding of the world.

Biological Transitions

abigailwhite17 — 2025-02-08 02:59:59 UTC

For my Biological Transitions artifact, I’ve chosen to reflect on my experience when I started puberty and struggled with my body image.

Description of Artifact:
I’ve decided to use my personal experience as the artifact for this entry. When I began puberty, I noticed many physical changes in my body, such as growth spurts, developing curves, and changes in skin and hair. These changes, while natural, felt overwhelming at times, and I struggled with accepting my body and how it was changing.

Explanation and Connection to Biological Transitions:
This experience connects to biological transitions, which refer to the physical changes that occur during puberty as the body matures. Puberty is a critical period where a child’s body goes through rapid development, and these changes often include growth spurts, changes in reproductive organs, and shifts in hormone levels. For girls, this can also include the development of breasts, menstruation, and changes in body composition.

When I started puberty, I didn’t feel prepared for how much my body would change so quickly. I felt out of control, and I wasn’t sure how to handle these changes. This is a common experience for many adolescents, as biological transitions can affect self-esteem and body image. The hormonal changes during puberty also increase sensitivity to social feedback, which can make it harder to feel confident about one’s appearance.

Looking back, I realize that these struggles were part of the natural process of my body developing into adulthood. Puberty can be a time of both physical growth and emotional adjustment, and I learned that accepting and understanding my body is an ongoing journey.

Social Transistions

abigailwhite17 — 2025-02-21 15:34:57 UTC

This picture was taken right after I graduated from high school. In it, I’m standing with my diploma, wearing my cap and gown, standing next to the people that have raised me. The day was filled with mixed emotions—excitement for what was ahead, but also sadness and fear. I knew that after this moment, I would be leaving behind the people and environment I had grown up with, stepping into a new phase of life filled with unknowns. The concept I’m connecting this artifact to is social transitions, particularly during the transition from high school to college. A social transition refers to the changes in one’s social environment, relationships, and interactions as they move from one stage of life to another. For many adolescents, graduating high school and starting college represents a significant social transition, as it involves adapting to new people, new settings, and new expectations. This photo perfectly captures a social transition in my life. Stepping off the stage after graduation marked not just the end of my high school years, but the beginning of a new journey into college. It felt like I was leaving behind everything familiar—friends, teachers, and even my hometown—into a new place where I would have to establish new friendships, navigate different social dynamics, and adjust to new challenges. The photo reflects the emotional complexity of this transition: the excitement for the future paired with the sadness of leaving behind what I had always known.

abigailwhite17 — 2025-02-21 15:42:15 UTC

This picture shows my Dad, Mom, little brother, and I during my childhood. It's a simple family photo, but to me, it captures a lot of the love and structure that shaped who I am today. The concept I’m connecting this artifact to is authoritative parenting, a style that involves a balance of warmth and structure. Authoritative parents set clear rules and expectations but also provide support, encourage independence, and maintain open communication. This style is linked to fostering respect, self-discipline, and positive behavior in children. In my family, authoritative parenting played a significant role in my upbringing. My parents were firm but fair, always setting clear boundaries while also making sure I understood their reasons for those rules. This approach helped me feel secure and taught me to respect authority, both in my family and in the wider world. Even though I don’t live at home anymore, the respect between us remains strong. The foundation of mutual respect and understanding that my parents created through their parenting style continues to shape our relationship today.

School

abigailwhite17 — 2025-03-08 02:56:18 UTC

I attended Onsted Community Schools since preschool, growing up alongside the same group of people for most of my life. Onsted was a moderately-sized school, with around 90-100 students per graduating class. My class, however, was one of the largest, with 120 students. While that might have seemed like a big number to some, everyone knew each other well. Typically, there were about 30-32 students in each class, so while the school was big enough to feel like a community, it wasn't quite as small as Lourdes. Personally, I preferred the smaller class sizes at Lourdes compared to the larger ones I had in high school.

Peer Groups

abigailwhite17 — 2025-03-08 02:59:50 UTC

Growing up in high school, I was part of a few different peer groups, each offering something unique. I had a close-knit group of friends who I’d known since elementary school, and we stuck together through all the ups and downs of high school. We were pretty laid-back, and our hangouts usually involved late-night chats, movie marathons, or just driving around with no particular destination in mind. However, I also found myself connecting with other groups, like the athletes, because I participated in a variety of activities. Those experiences helped me expand my social circle and develop different sides of my personality. Looking back, I realize how much these groups shaped who I am today and how important it was to have a balance of friendships that challenged and supported me. It’s interesting to think about how these connections helped me adapt to new environments, especially now that I’m navigating the different social dynamics of college life.

Identity

abigailwhite17 — 2025-04-02 14:29:48 UTC

My personal journey of finding my true identity has been long and challenging. Looking back, I realize I didn't truly begin to understand who I was until May of last year. Throughout high school, I was surrounded by the same group of people I had known all my life. In an environment like that, it’s easy to start blending in with those around you, and you don’t really have the chance to figure out who you are as an individual until you step outside of that world.

For me, even after graduating high school and starting college, I found myself stuck in the same mindset I had before. I held onto the same views on life, spoke the same way, dressed the same, and didn't feel any different. At that time, I was still with a guy I had been with since my junior year of high school. Because of that, I felt attached to the person I had been in high school, still carrying that "high school mentality" with me, especially since he was a grade behind me.

But after we broke up last May, everything started to shift. I began the process of discovering who I truly am, and who I wanted to become. I deepened my relationship with God, and slowly, I started letting go of friendships that didn’t align with the person I wanted to be. I surrounded myself with people who shared my values, but each of us remained true to ourselves and the lives we each wanted to create.

I'm still in the process of rooting my newfound identity in who I am, but there's a peace in knowing that I am finally my own person. I’m no longer tethered to a version of myself shaped by the people around me. I can confidently say that I’m on my own path, and that feels like a victory.

Work, Leisure, and Media

abigailwhite17 — 2025-04-02 14:48:51 UTC

I’ve been working since I was 16, starting in 2020. During my last two years of high school, I worked at Marshalls while balancing school. After graduating in 2022, I started a job as a Nursing Assistant at Lenawee Medical Care Facility, where I’ve been for the past two and a half years. Throughout my college career, I’ve continued to work, though my schedule changes with the school year. During the semester, I only work one day a week, but in the summer, I pick up 40+ hours a week.

I’ve always considered myself a hard worker, but balancing school and work—especially nursing school—can be incredibly challenging. At my job, I care for the residents of the facility by helping them get out of bed, bathe, dress, eat, and provide emotional support. It’s a role that is both physically and emotionally demanding. For me, it’s more than just a job—I give everything I have to the residents I care for. Because of this, by the end of the day, I’m completely drained, but I’m grateful to make a difference in their lives and have the ability to work, especially while in I'm school.