Life Event that Had The Most Influence on You: Exploring The Impact of Life

The Influence of Life Event on Development

Life is a steady course and within the path, all human goes through growth and development. There will be happiness and hardships; this experience shapes the way we are. Through meticulous studies, researchers have found out the different stages we encounter. It is divided into four parts- infancy, childhood, adolescence, adulthood. When we go through a phase, some people might feel like it is a natural process while others find it difficult and ask themselves the question - what life event has had the most influence on you and why. These are most influenced by the events that we experience within the life stage that we are in. A life event is defined as our moments or situations that we go through in life. It might be a major event (e.g. getting married) or a minor one (e.g. buying your favourite shoes), but overall it is the occasions that are significant to us.

Infancy: Influence of the Childhood Event on You

Infancy is the stage where babies get introduced to the physical world. It begins from the moment they are born up until their second-year birthday. After 9 months of being enclosed in their primary home- mother’s womb, they are facing their first life challenge which is separation. Babies tend to have strong emotions to express what they need. It can be sadness (e.g. being not around the carer), happiness (e.g. interacting with people), anger (e.g. hungry) or anxiety (e.g. unfamiliar surroundings). Through their senses, they become attached to their carer by recognising their distinct smell, facial recognition or when they hear their voice. If they do not see or feel their carer, they might cry out or be twitchy (waggling their arms and feet). However, if they know that their carer is within reach, the babies will feel secure and show signs of happiness (babbling, smiling or laughing).

It can be stressful for babies when they go through the life event of separation because babies are known to be very clingy and fragile; they depend on their guardian to be taken care of. What primary carers can do to help babies cope with separation is to slowly introduce independence to them. This can be achieved by letting them meet new people at a time and giving them enough time to get to know that person. Furthermore, they could also give them baby toys to play around so that they would not be dependent on the carer to entertain them.

Childhood Stage: Socialization and Growth

The next stage is childhood and it ranges from the ages of 3 and 5. This is where babies transition into children with major development in their lives. Infancy is where babies communicate through limited ways like crying. Whereas in childhood, the babies learn how to communicate properly by speaking their own language which makes them mature to be children.

Similarly to infancy, children go through a series of life events. One of the most meaningful experience they will encounter is when they first attend school. It can either be exciting or scary for them. This depends on their personality; if the child is more of a shy attribute, settling in will be quite difficult. On the opposite side, if the child has a loud personality, it will seem like another home for them; being comfortable in their new environment. School is their introduction not only to gain further knowledge but to also embrace socialisation. Being in school will help them make new friends which will benefit them in gaining social skills. As school is more serious than being taught at home, the children will explore if they need extra help. For example, a child might need an extra tutor to further assist them in learning.

Challenges and Influence of Adolescence

Adolescence is the transition from a teenager to become an adult. It happens between the ages of 11 and 17. This stage is mostly known for the development of our physical and emotional well-being. It is commonly known as puberty. This is still considered as a life event as it is a quite memorable moment where most young people struggle to cope with. It involves being in an awkward position when there are visible changes (e.g. growth spurt) or going through a rough path where emotions are all over the place because of hormonal changes.

These developments influence the teenager’s relationship with other people. Especially with their family or relatives, there are major changes that can sometimes affect them negatively. As most teenagers crave independence, they want to stay away from their guardians and do their own thing. This can effectively put a strain in their familial connection; reducing any communication which causes arguments. However, it can also be viewed in a positive way. With independence comes with learning one’s self. As the teenager spends a lot of time exploring, they are achieving what they really want in life; giving them a purpose and motivation to aim for successfulness.

It is known that when you are a teenager, you tend to value friendships more than anything. That is why it is common nowadays to hear about peer pressure as it is a problem that teenagers go through. They form a close bond with other young people that carry bad attitudes which they copy, then enact them without knowing that they are causing harm to others. For example, if an adolescent becomes friends with people who swore frequently, they will pick up that crude behaviour and offend others.

Adulthood: Life Event That Had the Most Influence

The last stage of human development that we go through is adulthood and one of the most metamorphic life events that an adult will experience is venturing the world of employment. It is an important development where it challenges an adult’s independence. This can either benefit them or put them at a disadvantage circumstance which is determined by their choices. If they have decided to go for a career that they have been dreaming of, it will likely bring happiness throughout their life. Even if the job is difficult for others, the dream job would be a piece of cake because their mind is set on to reach the goal. In instances where an adult has no choice but to settle for the opposite of their dream job, it can make them feel depressed; degrading their self-esteem because of being not good enough.

In regard to wages, adults who are earning above average can possess advantages in life. They would be able to afford their own houses, live lavishly and provide extravagantly for their families. This can only happen when the adult has employment that is permanent and being paid quite hefty. However, based on the survey that the CIPD (Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development) conducted, only 46% of workers in the United Kingdom says that they are getting paid accordingly to the job that they do.

On the other hand, if an adult is tied onto a zero-hour contract, they do not have that secure feeling of employment that can guarantee that they will be always supported. This can inflict intense stress and anxiety which can damage their overall well-being. Work is nearly taking up an adult’s life. It should be an enjoyable event that benefits adults and their employers.  

Works Cited

• CIPD. 'Survey Report: Good Work Index 2019-2020.' Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development.