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5 year old Meredith loves dogs. She initiates games of fetch with her family Golden Retriever. She takes it upon herself to take her dog on walks around their backyard. Her parents notice her spending all of her time playing with the dog, rather than toys they have purchased for her. They harshly criticize her choices. She feels guilty for displeasing her parents. Crisis: making decisions and initiating her own actions versus being criticized for her choices and feeling guilty
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17 year old Meredith knows who she is. She knows that she is deeply caring and nurturing. She recognizes her strengths in caring for and training dogs. She knows that she is not career driven; meaningful experiences bring her joy. She believes that her role in society is to support her family and furry friends. Crisis: being aware of who she is including her beliefs, strengths, and place in the world versus feeling confused about her identity, maybe unable to accept who she is
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Meredith has been a stay-at-home dog mother her entire adult life. She currently is the proud owner of three purebred Great Danes. While she loves her own dogs, she realizes there are many dogs living in less fortunate circumstances around the world, and she feels a pull to contribute to society by helping some of these dogs. She decides to start volunteering at a local rescue for large breed dogs. This gives her a feeling of fulfillment. Crisis: working towards selfish versus altruistic goals