Physical and psychosocial development of the adolescent student

During this week, in Teaching Practicum II course, we discussed about the physical and psychosocial development of the adolescent students, this topic made remember my adolescence time. As we have already studied, adolescence is a period  of many changes in human’s lives, and these changes may result difficult for adolescents. As all teens, I also faced many changes as physical as phychosocial. I remember when my body started changing. For me, this stage was kind confusing for the reason that at the moment to dress I did know what to wear since I was not a little girl anymore. Besides, at the same time I was surprising for all those physical changes we girls suffer in the adolescence. On the other hand, I was not an exception of the psychosocial development. I remember, I wanted to be part of a group in which I could be accepted. As all teens, I also experienced my first love relationship and break up. During this period of my life I wanted to go out with my friends, and I remember how disappointed I felt when my parents did not allow me to go out with them. I behaved unmature and I always wanted to have the reason  of everything. Now, I see all those facts, it was really embarrasing! 

(Self -Esteem Tips: Dealing with body image issues)

 

Despite once I was a teen, I did know why adolescents go trough many changes. I did know why they behave the way the do. But now, as a young adult and as a teacher I understand why adolescents are in fact adolescents. I learned that adolescence is a transition where teens are getting ready to become adults. In the article “The self, identity, emotion, and personality” , Susan Harter expreses that “adolescents carry with them a sense of who they are and what makes them different from everyone else”. In other words, teens look for idependence, attention, and their own self and identity in order to be unique. In addition, I learned that teens are emotional and this aspect influence in the way they think and the way they tend to behave. Moreover, I learned that teenagers deal with self –understanding and self - esteem which is the cognitive representation that each human has about himself. According to Harter (2006), an adolescent’s self – undersatanding is based, in part, on the various roles and membership categories that define who adolescents are.

Regarding to the teaching field, as a techer I would like to help my adolescent students to find their own identity, being the way they are. I consider important to make our students understand that even though they all are teens in the classroom, and they are facing the same changes;  everyone is so different  because everyone has their own essence, which makes them unique; no matter if they have the same likes, needs, capacities and interests. I would also like to help my students by creating an environment where they feel confident about themselves, and that they are  part of a group where they can demonstrate their capacities and at the same time help them to discover new abilities.