The two life events that had a significantly positive impact on my life include moving away from Texas as a 13 year-old, and the birth of my first born daughter. I had lived with my single mum for a very long time until met my step dad. Since that moment, I became rebellious and became involved with the wrong group of people. I almost got killed while these groups. My grandparents were very supportive, and they let me move with them to Texas. While there, I felt like I had a new life to make something of my life and to make my wrongs right again. I decided to throw my gang clothes away and cut my hair. I joined junior R.O.T.C in high school.
In the other event, on November 16, 2013 my angel, first child, daughter was born. I had married the best woman that I have always loved spending time with her. We were blessed with a daughter whom I cherish so much. When my wife gave me the news that she was expectant, I was nervous, happy, and sad to know that I would be a dad. Even though this would be my first time as a father, I believe that my supportive families from both sides of the marriage would help me go through the steps of fatherhood. I was happy at the birth of our child because she is my first child and I never thought I was going to be a father, until this opportunity gratefully presented itself to me. I was also nervous because I want the best for my daughter, I want to raise her with the same morals that my grandfather pasted down to me. I want to protect her from all the dangers of the world, and give the best that my father did not provide for me. However, I am also sad because I had to leave my daughter and my wife in Japan as we waited for my daughter’s passport to travel with my family to America.
According to the Urie Bronfenbrenner theory of development, he indicates that there are different levels of the environment that influence the development of children and labeled them as the microsystem, the mesosystem, the exosystem, and the macrosystem (Angela, 2008). The microsystem represents the mall immediate environment where the child is brought up such as the immediate family or caregivers. These levels grow as the child grows and incorporates into the society and his level of interaction increases from the family level to the societal level. The macrosystem is therefore the highest level of interaction and include government permitted freedoms, cultural values, wars, and the economy among several others.
In my case, the Bronfenbrenner rings influenced several stages of my life and shaped my current personality. As a child, I did not share the fatherly or motherly love in my single parent family. The appearance of my step dad when I was 13 years old even made matters worse in shaping my conduct. I believe that, this was one of the reasons that led me into bad company; I lacked the guidance to choose the right friends and groups to associate with them. However, my grandparents, who also belong to the microsystem as family members took control of my life after moving in with them. They transformed my life positively and ensured that I lived a responsible life, and enrolled me into high school.
As an adult, my macrosystem was the society where I lived with my wife and my newborn daughter. My employment status does not allow me to be the best father that I want to be for my child since I have to leave them and go for duties away from my family. Additionally, when I wanted to travel with my family to America, I had to wait for my daughter’s passport, which made me leave them behind as I moved to America. However, my childhood experiences in my grandfather’s microsystem and my mother and step dad’s family made me stronger. It shaped my thinking and the need for care for my family.
Learning from the experiences in my childhood has reinforced the behaviors that are evident in my adulthood. My mother had lost love for me. My step dad also neglected me and led me to bad company. However, my grandparents ensured that I became a good boy, and lived in his footsteps. Additionally, my father had taught me how to play baseball, which a later started in Japan with young boys. My grandfather has been instrumental in my life. I chose to enlist into the army because I wanted to follow in his footspteps despite criticism from different people in different Bronfenbrenner ring’s level of development (Mossler Development). These experience influence my online learning since I have identified the purpose I want to fulfill in my life – I want to be the best father and a good husband to my family.
References:
Angela O. (Jan 17th 2008). Child & Adolescent Development: Overview: Urie Bronfenbrenner and Child Development. Mentalhelp.net. retrieved from http://www.mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=doc&id=7930
Mossler Development. Perspectives on Adult Development
