Human Growth and Development

Adolescents are an interesting group of people undergoing numerous changes in their
lives. The adolescent stage is a critical link between childhood and adulthood and thus an
essential topic for study. I chose to interview youths between the ages of 11 and 18 for numerous
reasons, including helping me understand the changes in behavior at the adolescent
developmental stage. Notably, youths go through numerous physical, psychological, and social
changes, significantly affecting their overall behavior. Additionally, I chose youths of ages 11-18
because they are close to transitioning to adulthood; therefore, they are expected to behave in a
particular way.

Background

A critical examination of the group’s background indicates that they were ages 11 to 18
years. Additionally, the adolescents consisted of boys and girls, and there was equality in the
number of participants. The adolescents selected also had different grades (both low and high
grades). Remarkably, the adolescents chosen were from different schools, including public and
private, and this aims to compare the characteristics of students in both settings. The interview
took place in the city hall, which was booked solely for the interview.

Interview

1. Relationship with peers

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The adolescent responded that he relates well to his peers because he considers them
friends. The adolescent was tensed when answering the question because he knows he
omitted the violent activities that peers do to each other, including bullying.

2. Attitudes toward school and teachers
   The adolescent responded that he likes school sometimes, and he sometimes wishes not
   to go to school because studies are difficult sometimes. Also, the adolescent stated that he
   likes most of the teachers in school and hates some of them because they are harsh. The
   adolescent was confident when answering this question.
3. Favorite subject or subjects tell why/least favorite subject, tell why.
   The adolescent stated that his favorite subjects are Mathematics and Chemistry.
   However, the adolescent expressed his negative attitude toward English because it
   requires much attention to avoid making silly mistakes.
4. Have you ever been a peer tutor? If yes, what was it like?
   The adolescent stated that he had been a peer tutor, especially when they were studying in
   groups. He states it is difficult to tutor peers because they never listen to him since they
   are in the same age group.
5. Have you ever been tutored by a peer? If yes, what was it like?
   The adolescent accepted that they had been tutored by a peer earlier. He explains that he
   was comfortable with how the peer explained certain concepts.
6. Would you like to be a peer tutor?
   The adolescent stated that he would like to be a peer tutor due to many reasons. One of
   the reasons is that it allows him to understand concepts better as he explains them to his

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peers. Also, he can interact with his peers at greater lengths, which strengthens their
relationships.

7. Plans for college or future career
   The adolescent responded that he has plans to join college after completing high school.
   Also, he stated that he wants to become an industrial chemist when he completes his
   studies.
8. Thoughts about grades in school
   From the interview, it was evident that the adolescent was concerned about grades in
   school after realizing he could only become an industrial chemist by achieving excellent
   grades. Before this realization, the adolescent did not care about grades in school.
9. Feeling about testing in school
   The adolescent believes that testing is essential in school because it helps determine
   students’ abilities. Also, teachers can use the test results to help students who lag behind
   to become better.
10. Thoughts about violence in schools, teenage parents
    The adolescent stated that school violence interferes with students’ ability to achieve
    better grades. He particularly says that he was a victim of bullying, which affected his
    grades. The adolescents stated that inept teenage parenting interferes with the
    concentration of students in schools, hence poor grades.
11. Thoughts about justice, freedom, equality, and discrimination, among others
    The adolescent stated that justice should be upheld in school to ensure that every student
    gets the services they require. Also, discrimination should be discouraged in school

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because it negatively affects students. Also, the adolescent stated that he needs to be
guided by teachers and parents, and excessive freedom is destructive.

12. Thoughts about male and female relationships
    The adolescent stated that having relationships with the opposite sex is allowed, but
    engaging in premature sexual intercourse is wrong and interferes with studies.
    A critical examination of the responses of the adolescent indicates that he uses reasoning
    to make better decisions. According to Piaget’s theory of cognitive development, youths 12 years
    and above are at the formal operational stage of cognitive development (Kazi et al. 8). At this
    stage, adolescents often begin to think abstractly and use reason when dealing with hypothetical
    problems. Also, adolescents at this stage begin to use deductive logic based on the specific
    information available about a specific issue. According to Erikson’s theory of social-emotional
    development, adolescents between 11 and 18 years start developing a sense of self (Gross 182).
    In the responses provided by the adolescent in the interview, it is evident that the adolescent is
    developing a sense of self because he is true to his beliefs and values.

Conclusion

An examination of the responses indicates that they are consistent with the age-level
characteristics of the group interviewed. The responses vividly reveal that the adolescent is
starting to use reason when handling issues and answering questions. It is vital to acknowledge
that teenagers go through numerous changes during adolescence, including physical, cognitive,
and social changes. However, teachers and parents should help adolescents understand that the
changes taking place in their bodies should not lower their self-esteem.

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Works Cited

Gross, Yael. “Erikson’s stages of psychosocial development.” The Wiley Encyclopedia of
Personality and Individual Differences: Models and Theories, 2020, pp. 179-184.
Kazi, Smaragda, and Evangelia Galanaki. “Piagetian Theory of Cognitive Development.” The
Encyclopedia of Child and Adolescent Development, 2019, pp. 1-11.