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I am born
The greatest thing to ever happen to humanity. I am born to two great parents in the great city of Houston, Texas. I grow up in a stable suburban home as an only child. This affects the person I am in the future by determining my outlook and how I express how I feel on certain topics. -
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Infancy: basic trust vs. mistrust
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I take my first steps
I feel safe enough around my parents to begin walking. I show trust to try new things even when they're scary. -
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Early childhood: autonomy vs. shame
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I say my first word
My first word was "mama", which says a lot about my future life and how we would be so close. I put my trust in my mom and leaned on her from day one and into the future. -
My dad dies
Very devastating for my mom and me as a two year old. My mom is forced to raise me by herself and from then on it's just my mom and I. -
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Playa age: initiative vs. guilt
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School age: industry vs. inferiority
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I start playing club soccer
My free time is taken up primarily by this. I learn to make new friends with the people on my soccer team. Club soccer becomes a big part of my life. -
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Adolescence: identity vs. confusion
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I quit playing club soccer
My schedule opens up and I have a lot more free time. The first time I quit something after I've been doing it for a long time. -
I graduate high school
I have a real sense of accomplishment and autonomy. I feel as if I have the capability to make it on my own, and am excited to do so. -
I go off to college at Colorado School of Mines
This is the start of life on my own. I am forced to figure things out for myself and do things for myself, instead of always depending on my mom. -
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Early adulthood: intimacy vs. isolation
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I graduate Colorado School of Mines with a degree in chemical engineering
This is the foundation of my professional life, and determines what I will do with my life. I feel very accomplished and ready to find out where my life will go. -
I begin my 6 month trip through Europe
This event has a great impact on my life because it shows me there is more to life than working and paying bills. It gives me great experiences and memories to give me a fully-rounded, fresh perspective on the world. -
I get my first job, working as a chemical engineer
This job is in New York, so I move there and get an apartment. Living in New York has always been my dream, and I'm excited to be able to work there. This impacts me because it's my first job out of college. It teaches me how to manage my money. -
I quit my job in New York
I miss my family and begin to dislike my boss, so I quit and move back to Colorado. I quickly get another job, still working as a chemical engineer. This teaches me to take charge of my life. -
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Adulthood: generativity vs. stagnation
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My mom retires
After retiring, she moves to Colorado. This affects my life because my mom is living near me again, so I am happier. -
I get married
This event impacts my future because it gives me someone to live life with and have fun with. Later, I look back on this day as the best day of my life. My husband is a civil engineer and likes to bike, hike, and ski in his free time. -
My husband and I buy a house together
This is my first huge purchase. We live in the suburbs of Littleton, Colorado. When I'm not working, I like to ski, take pictures, and hike. -
My first child is born, a boy named Luke
This event is important for my future because it teaches me how to take care of another human being and put his needs above my own. My life after this is about my kid, not me. -
My second child is born, a girl named Lilian
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Luke starts school
I have to say goodbye to him and he has to start to depend on himself to develop a sense of autonomy. -
My husband loses his job
There is a recession, so his company fires him. I still have my job, but our family still suffers economically. -
My husband gets a new job
After several months of my husband looking for a job and helping around the house, our family gets back on its feet. -
Luke graduates high school and leaves for college
My first baby leaves the house to go live life on his own and make his own choices. I am affected because it is the first time I have to let go of him. -
Lilian graduates high school and leaves for college
My last baby leaves the house, leaving my husband and I alone in a big house. This is a hardship because we are very close, so we solve it by talking on the phone once a week. -
My mom dies
This is the most devastating moment of my life thus far. I overcome this challege by leaning on my husband and finding peace that she will always be in my heart. -
Luke gets married
My first baby marries someone and moves away. It affects me beccause I have to deal with the fact that he is a grown up and can make it on his own. -
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Old age: integrity vs. despair
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I retire
I retire from my job. Now I have a lot more free time to do my hobbies and volunteer. -
My husband retires
Now that we both have more free time, we enjoy going on vacations and hiking. -
My first grandchild is born
Luke and his wife give me a baby girl granddaughter. I fall in love with her and want the best for her. I also spoil her to death. -
Lilian gets married
My little girl gets married and moves away, making me feel sad but also like I did a good job raising her. -
My husband and I buy another house
We buy a smaller house in Breckenridge to live in after we retire. My husband continues to work at the ski ticket offices during ski season just for something to do, and I take pictures and sell my photography at a shop in town. -
Lilian gives birth to twins
I get two more grandkids, both boys, whom I love very much. This affects my life and the life of my daughter because we have two more people in our family and two more people to give out time to. -
My husband and I celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary
I have leaned on and depended on my husband for 50 years. Through all of our struggles, we have stayed together. We have also raised two amazing children and now even have grandchildren growing up and becoming their own people. -
My first granddaughter graduates high school and goes to college
This makes me feel extremely old. I am proud of my child for raising such good kids. -
I move to an old folk's home
My children move me here at the age of 93. My sense of autonomy from living on my own is gone. However, my old folk's home is a fun one with more active old people, so I enjoy myself. -
My first great grandchild is born
I feel very old now, having great grandchildren. I try to be as involved as I can be in their lives, but I trust my great grandchildren and children to be there for them and raise them right. -
My husband dies
Most devastating moment of my life. I get through this by going to church and leaning on my friends. -
I die at the ripe old age of 101, having lived in three centuries
If you're reading this, it means I'm dead. Remember that I was adventurous and loved both my family and my job. My proudest achievement is my family and the great people they've become. Life is a beautiful thing, and I'm so blessed that mine was so long and that I was able to leave my mark on the world through the values I taught my kids. I evolved from a stubborn young girl who knew little of the world to a stubborn old lady who knows a lot. Every moment made me who I am, and I am so thankful.
