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Prenatal Development and Birth
I was born at Providence hospital in Southfield, Michigan at around 6:15 pm. I am the oldest child in my family so my mom's firth child birth. The famous story that's always told is when my mom was in the hospital in labor my dad was looking out the window eating a Reese's Peanut Butter Cup and my mom had to yell "Focus!" It was a natural child birth. My name is Alexandra but my parents decided to call me Ally, not Alex because Alex was a very popular name. -
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Alexandra's Life
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First Two Years: Biosocial
I was a great sleeper. My parents were shocked at how well I would go down for a nap or sleep through the night. They partly think it was due to the fact I was so active when I was awake so I crashed whenever I layed down. -
First Two Years: Cognitive
My first word was "no" when I was about one yer old. I said that word for everything! My family would always prompt me saying "Ally.. what is this?" and I would respond with "no" and everyone would clap and be very happy. I would even say "no" when I wanted "yes"; my parents just had to interpret the meaning. -
First Two Years: Psychosocial
I was always smiling and laughing. I truly was a happy kid, rarely crying or upset. I never had any problems getting carried by someone I didn't know and I loved attention. One time, I was in church and realized I could scream at the top of my lungs and get attention for it by people turning aound and staring at me. I continued to do it so finally my mortified parents got up and we left. -
Early Childhood: Psychosocial
One day when I was three years old my mom, sister, and I were playing outside. All of the sudden a little girl and her mom came riding up the driveway on bikes. The mom said, "We heard a family just moved in here with a little girl about the same age as my daughter." That is how I met my very best friend, still to this day, Darby. -
Early Childhood: Biosocial
I had no problem getting adequate nutrition. I was not a picky eater whatsoever. Some of my favorite meals were spaghetti and pizza (and still are my favorite to this day). Can you tell I am 40% Italian?! -
Early Childhood: Cognitive
I went to a preschool about five minutes away fro mmy house and I went with my neighbor. I do not remember much about it: except not crying when my parents had to leave (sometimes I did though.) I also remember nap time, and that I was never tired for it. Our last day of preschool we had a graduation ceremony. We wore little caps and gowns and sang songs like "I Believe I Can Fly". I remember that day and my grandma crying watching me sing. -
Middle Childhood: Biosocial
When I was six years old, my family became members at a Country Club, Meadowbrook. My mom and I were walking on the pooldeck one summer day and asked the head coach of the swim team if she could give me some swim lessons. She said, "Sure! Jump in the pool and start!" and just like that, my competitive swimming career began. I madeit to the championship meet and even got a medal my first year. I kept swimming until senior year of highschool and never forgot that day. -
Middle Childhood: Psychosocial
During these years of my life my best friend, Darby, and I only needed eachother. Since we lived so close together and went to the same school, even the same class, our friendship grew. We were always nice to other kids, but it just never clicked with them. We were content playing with only eachother on the playground and telling secrets only we would understand. We were attached at the hip! -
Middle Childhood: Cognitive
I have always had a great memory. If I went to a place one time I would remember everything about it, even how to drive there. Darby's mom always tells the story about how whenever we were driving somewhere, in the backseat I would point and say, "That's where my grandma lives" or, "This way to the mall" or even "This is where I go to swim practice". -
Adolescence: Psychosocial
Some teenagers really drift apart from their parents during the adolescent years. However, during this time I became closer to them than ever before.We always would go golfing, go on vacations, have game nights, and have fun no matter what. Laughing, joking, talking, everything. I cannot imagine not having a close family relationship. -
Adolescence: Biosocial
When I was in eighth grade my health started to decline rapidly. After going to many doctors I discorvered I had Celiac Disease. Which is an allergy to gluten, a protein found in wheat, barley, and rye. I also found out I was lactose intolerant. My mom had no idea what to make me for dinner since I had to warning of this allergy. I had to cut it out of my diet immediately. It was very difficult going out to dinner with my friends and not being able to eat normal things. -
Adolescence: Cognitive
I loved middle school, especially eighth grade. My friends and I were at the top of the school and we had a great time. The friends I made during middle school are the same friends I have to this day. It has always been the four of us and it always will be. Other people "friend hopped" or jumped from friend group to friend group, but I have stuck with the same group of friends since then and I would not have it any other way. -
Emerging Adulthood: Psychosocial
It was this day, January 2, 2011, I became a girlfriend. Two weeks before this, I met this amazing guy whose name is Carl through a few friends. We hit it off right away, talking about anything and everything. When it was time for him to leave he asked me for my number and we talked that night, and everyday ever since. On January 2 it became official. It has been about a year and seven months that we have been together and I have never been happier. I could not imagine my life without him. -
Emerging Adulthood: Biosocial
When I left for college I decided to tart a strict workout routine. I figured I could take an hour break from studying/ school work and workout at the gym nearby my dorm. Once I got into the groove of it, I looked forward to working out and I learned to love it. At the end of freshmen year I lost a total of twenty pounds! I continue to exercise today and will continue to next year, and the following years as well. I understand the feeling of a "workout high" now! -
Emerging Adulthood: Cognitive
I am currently going under a college transfer. Last year I attended Michigan State University studying pre-nursing. However, I felt like I was not where I was meant to be. I wanted to be at my dream school, the University of Michigan. So I applied for a second time and got accepted in the Nursing school! I had to cancel all my Michigan State plans, let my roommate know, and find housing for this upcoming year at UofM. I already took one summer class at the University and I absolutely love it. -
Adulthood: Cognitive
I plan on graduating from the University of Michigan's Nursing school and then getting a job as an emergency room nurse. After a few years of that, I plan on gong back to school and specializing somewhre (I am not quite sure yet). I will have so much intelligence I will not know what to do with it! I plan on working, even if having a family. That is what is great about nursing, you can work full-time, part-time, weekends only. It can adjust to your schedule, especially if you are good at it. -
Adulthood: Biosocial
I am going to need glasses, I can already tell. My vision is going now and I am only nineteen years old. Both my parents needed glasses, my dad wears his everyday. My mom got the laser eye surgery and now only needs reading glasses. I really do not like the idea of them, I feel like I look funny wearing them. I could always get contacts, but I feel like those are hard to put it in as well. It may just be what has to happen though! -
Adulthood: Psychosocial
I plan on marrying my current boyfriend, Carl. We have talked about it and I think it would work, however, we are only nineteen right now. But if all goes as planned, we will be happily married and have a few kids of our own. He will be working as an engineer and I will be a specialized nurse. I will still be close to my parents, my sister, and my cousins because that is how I was raised: a close family relationship. We will eat dinners together, go on vacations together, and much more. -
Late Adulthood: Psychosocial
When I reach an older age I hope to have a great relationship with my grandchildren and oter family members. I have been so close with both my grandparents and I expect to be the same way. Grandparents are great because they get to spoil the kids, like give them ice cream for breakfast and think nothing of it. Also, like my grandparents often do: brag about their grandkids! It is a well known thing grandparents like to show-off to their friends and I intend on doing that as well. -
Late Adulthood: Cognitive
I am very nervous for what kinds of diseases I am encounter as I reach late adulthood. My grandmother on my dads side has very bad dementia along with Alzheimer's disease. I see what it did to her and it is not something I would like to experience. However, it does run in genes so I just know now to be aware of it and look for signs when I grow older. My dad does as well. -
Late Adulthood: Biosocial
I believe when I become a late adult I will not be prejudice in any way. At least, not in a way like previous generations have been. I have been lucky to grow up in a very diverse area having many different background and nationalities at all my different schools. Especially my college, which is in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Basically a melting pot of different backgrounds. This makes me happy because I would like to eliminate prejudice from our everyday lives. -
Death and Dying
I predict I will pass away when I am 97 years old because I recently took the Life Expectancy Test (on one of our learning modules) and that was what the predicted number was! I eat right, sleep right, do not smoke or drink, have good relationships, laugh a lot, and am very happy. All those things add into being big factors in growing older. I would like to pass away peacefully with my family by my side, all of them there so none of them feel like they are left out.