DEVELOPMENT

STAGES AND LATE

ADOLESCENCE
Do you remember the feeling you had when you
finally celebrated your 13th birthday, which
symbolized your crossing over the developmental
stages of childhood to teen hood? There was
probably a sadness because you realized you were
not a child anymore. You probably felt some
excitement because suddenly you have strong
needs and desires to be with people at your age,
making friends and having fun without your
family. You also have felt afraid of the future.
ROBERT J. HAVIGHURST ( 1900-1991) a
distinguished educator proposed that there are
specific to do that come with each stage of
development . They are called developmental
tasks that need to be accomplished to enable you
to perform other tasks in life. Additionally it will
help you adjust well in in the forthcoming changes
in your life and be a responsible adult in the
future.
TASK 1: You must adjust with the physical
changes that marked your growth.
At this point changes in your physique should have
fully set in. Your physical traits are now
developed. What comes very important now is for
to properly take care of your body. You need to
keep yourself healthy.
TASK 2:You must adjust with your growing
intellectual abilities and develop critical thinking
skills..
This is the time when your thinking goes beyond
what is concrete and physical. You are able to see
the world beyond what you see. You begin to
reach a new level of awareness about things. You
can engage in abstract thinking deal with thoughts
and expand your ideas.
TASK 3:You must adjust the academic demands at
school
Your intellectual abilities must adapt to the
cognitive demands in your studies. As you have
notice your subject becoming more difficult each
year. The requirements become more demanding.
At times, you need to multitask just to cope with
the various requirements.
TASK 4: You must develop language skills.
With expanded thinking abilities , you must learn
to communicate effectively. Learn to express
what you think and feel. Speak your mind, express
your feelings . However you may also have to
make sure that you are not offending anyone . Be
sensible and sensitive at the same time.
TASK 5: You must learn to be independent.
Independence kicks in with being your own person
asserting your individuality. This is the time when
pulling your self out of your comfort zone of your
parents. Often times , this attempts is marred by
conflicts with adults or authorities.
TASK 6: You must establish healthy peer
relationship.
Relationships with others especially with people of
your age , is very important element in life of
adolescent. Make friends with people who will be
good influences to you and will inspire you to do
your best. .
TASK 7: You must manage your sexuality.
You must engage in responsible sexual behaviors
that incorporate good values and gracious
manners. This means that you behave in a ways
that you do not put you at your risks for early
pregnancy or health problems.
TASK 8: You must adopt good moral standards,
personal values and beliefs.
Initially your parents set the rules on what is good and
bad / right or wrong. Your behaviors then were
influenced by the consequences that your parents or
authorities have set .This may change when you reach
this stage when you determine what beliefs or values
you will accommodate and will fit your system, as
influenced by what you have learned at school, friends
have told you and what you already experienced in
life.
TASK 9: You must establish career and vocational
goals.
Having known who you are , your important personal
skills and what you want to become in the future, the
next big step is setting clear goals on how you will make
your career plans happen. How are you going to prepare
for the job you want.? You will need to asses your skills
, get into the right educational program and persevere
in achieving your goals.
TASK 10: Being courageous in standing up and
being different from your friends.
The adolescents need to feel that he / she belongs to
the group. While this is important , belonging to a
group does not necessarily mean losing one’s identity
and being guided by “MOB RULE” or what the majority
does.
Ex . When being offered to smoke a cigarette or drink
beverages. Being courageous means learning to say “No” what
one thinks is going against his/her belief and values system
even if this would mean rejection by a group.
TASK 11: Developing self esteem
Learn to understand , accept and appreciate oneself as
a unique person. Avoiding comparisons between you and
other people is a healthy way of developing self
esteem.
TASK 12: Learning how media andadvertising are
trying to influence your thinking and feelings.
Understanding that news is reported for a reason ,
usually to serve the purpose of someone or some
organization. Understand that advertising employed to
sell consumer products work on either fear or desires.
TASK 13: Embracing a healthy lifestyle
Becoming aware of your health and the food you eat
and engaging in sports and other physical activities
beneficial to your well being. Learn to relax.
TASK 9: Developing your spirituality
Finding what gives meaning to your life and to all the
experiences you are going through..
Challenges
during
adolescence
1. Attitudes and behavior toward sexuality and
sexual relationship[.
Puberty drives the adolescent to experience surges of
sexual desires , which often lead them to
experimentation and exploration . While this is often
healthy to engage in, there is the danger of losing
control over one’s sexual drives which inevitably end
up in life time of regrets.
 1. Attitudes and behavior toward sexuality and sexual
relationship
Adolescent exploring their sexuality should be able to draw
their limits in terms of sexual expressions, and should be
responsible enough to see the future results or consequences of
their behaviors. Sexual relationship is healthy when the
adolescent sees this as part of a loving relationship and not as
something that is just for exploration or pleasure.
The adolescent is also prone to exploring pornography, which
usually starts out of curiosity. A research in the USA shows that
people who are heavily exposed to pornography tend to imitate
what they watch and relive these in their lives.
 2. ACADEMIC CONCERNS
The role of student is the primary role of an adolescent who is
still in school. Although there are other roles he/she may take ,
being students take a primary importance.
Being responsible is called for when dealing with academic
challenges. Be aware that academic grades are not the only
indicator of learning. Discipline, openness, perseverance ,
diligence, excellence, curiosity, analytical and critical thinking,
memory , understanding, cooperation and team work,
respecting other people’s opinion and beliefs, social
interactions, leadership and followership are some of he
important skills and values that an adolescent student can also
learn while in school.
 2. ACADEMIC CONCERNS
Often times , what is being tested in school is the body of
knowledge one acquires and absorbs, and usually grades reflect
this. The grades are critical in achieving your goals.
 3. GROUP BELONGINGNESS
An adolescent wants to belong. While there is an urge to be
independent and autonomous from his family and parents,
there is also an urge to seek a replacement of this support
system, this time in the form of social grouping such as school
friends, memberships in organizations and community. An
adolescent with a low self esteem might be drawn toward
organizations, that promise camaraderie in the form of “
Walang Iwanan” “ do or die” or “ one for all, all for one” kind
of social support.
Avoiding organizations that adhere to violence and other anti
social behaviors is a responsibility of the adolescent because he
is responsible for his own welfare, his, his friends and his
school.
 3. GROUP BELONGINGNESS
When joining informal groups or organizations, be very aware
of peer pressure that says “ Do this or you cannot join our
group because you are not like us” . Healthy and wholesome
organization respect the individuality of each person.
 4. HEALTH AND NUTRITION
A healthy mind and body should what every adolescent (
everybody else) should strive for.
Avoid unhealthy foods such item laden with bad oils and fats.
Drink plenty of clean water regulate intakes of rich foods such
as dessert, animal meat and fat.
Long exposure to television and screen gadgets are also
unhealthy. Regulate the hours you spend with technology. Read
books and take time to exercise.
 5. ROLES
ALL Human beings have roles to play in their lives. Roles are
part of ones identity, such as being a son /daughter to your
parents, being brother/sister to your siblings, being student in
school. Although these roles are separate and different from
each other adolescent must learn to integrate all these roles
and it should be clear that these roles are related to the tasks
expected of them by others.
Example
An adolescent who is student has studying as his/her top priority, however this
adolescent as being the eldest in his family may also required to take care of his
siblings, and may be asked to work after school to help in providing he family.
A healthy adolescent whose self identity is clear and whose
roles are integrated will understand and accept the situation.
 6. MATERIAL POVERTY
There are many stories about school children and adolescent
students who live in far-flung areas where infrastructure is not
available and one of those who do not have choice but to walk
going to school. Stories of students who could not go to school
because they do not have money for food or transportation are
usually exploited in movies.
 7. PARENTS WORKING ABROAD
Another social phenomenon experience by many Filipino families
today linked to poverty are parents who leave their families to
work to support the needs of their family.
What is the impact of an absent parent on a child who is growing up
with only one parent or even no parent at home?
How can an adolescent minimize the impact of parents’ absence?
First of all there must be a recognition of the feelings, emotions
brought about by the situation. Some may react negatively by being
angry at themselves or feel resentment toward the absent of
parents, some may act in rebellious way towards elders who stay
with them at home or may become over dependent with friends or
other people who serve as a substitute to their parents.
 7. PARENTS WORKING ABROAD
Some children of OFW’s often resort to emotional
blackmail just to get what they want, gadgets/ pair of
shoes.
Those who react in a more positive way will see their
situation as a consequence of socio economic needs of
their family to survive and have better lives. Thye see
their parents working abroad as offering so much
sacrifice for their welfare.
 8. CAREER CHOICE
The adolescent is creating identity for himself is faced with
urgent need to identify what course to take in college and
establish path for the future. While many private schools
provide career counseling and guidance which involves testing
and interviews, the adolescent can be more proactive by
accessing many resource materials found in the internet to
help to identify his capabilities and skills and the wide choices
of work that he can take.
 9. RELATIONSHIPS
At home a female adolescent who desires autonomy and
independence will encounter parental objections. She may not
be allowed to attend social gatherings without chaperones or
go out in town trips with males in a group. When this happen
relationship at home strained and adolescent who does not see
the real purpose of why her parents are restricting her will
react negatively to such restrictions. What is important is for
the adolescent to understand that her parents are concerned
for her safety and well being and for the values her parents
uphold. And restricting her may be a way of showing that they
care for her.
 9. RELATIONSHIPS
Among friends, adolescents can be more relaxed. This is the stage
when friendships develop easily and frequently. Adolescents find it
easier to bond with friends rather than with family members “ who
do not understand them. Rumors can easily destroy friendly
relationship. Envy due to comparison is also a major cause of
breakdowns in relationship. Non-acceptance of differences is
another cause of “unfriending” someone on facebook.
Example:
You do not have to prove that you are a good friend to someone
who tells you to drink, smoke , take drugs, have sex and cheat in
class. Being dared to behave unacceptably or to do something that
goes against what you believe in is not a friendship.
 9. RELATIONSHIPS
Romantic relationships are inevitable and equally challenging
in adolescent . When emotion are involved , it is often difficult
to be objective and many adolescents are still developing their
skills in understanding their emotions. Breakups in romantic
relationships occur very frequently among adolescent because
of immaturity. However, experiences such as break up are
positive ways to grow toward emotional maturity.
There are relationship that ends in conflict. An adolescent can
understand and deal with conflict by accepting there is conflict
that exist him and another person and understand what is
causing the conflict.
THREE FILIPINO
ADOLESCENTS,
THREE HEROES
 GREGORIO DEL PILAR (Goyong, “ Boy General”)
Was fondly called by his family as “Goyong’ and eventually
referred to by his fellow revolutionaries as “Boy General” for
being the youngest ever to be commissioned as such by the
Filipino revolutionary forces that fought the Spaniards and the
Americans. Goyong was born in Bulacan on November, 14,
1875. He graduated from the Ateneo Municipal de Manilawith a
degree of Bachelor of Arts. At the age of 20 he joined the
revolutionary forces against the Spaniards headed by Bonifacio
. He was killed in the battle of Tirad Pass in Ilocos Sur fighting
the American Colonialist forces. He doed on December 2, 1899
at age of 24.
 EDGAR JOPSON ( “Edjop”)
Was born in Sept. 1 ,1948 of middle class parents who owned a
small grocery store in Sampaloc Manila. He graduated as
valedictorian of his high school class in Ateneo. He was an
active highschool student, joining organizations such as the
Ateneo catechical instruction League, Solidarity of Mary and
Student catholic Action.While taking up Law, he became the
student council president at Up and President of the National
Union of Students of the Philippines. He was also honored as
one of the ten outstanding young men of the Philippines.
He joined the revolutionary forces of the underground
movement. In 1979 , he was arrested and tortured in prison. In
1982, while eluding arrest, he was gunned down on his way out
. He was 34.
 EFREN PENAFLORIDA ( “Efren”)
Started an organization called dynamic teen company
comprised of his fellow students to keep adolescents like him
away from trouble when he was just 16 years old. His
innovative project was termed as “pushcart classroom” also
termed locally as the “ kariton classroom” because they use
pushcarts to carry school supplies and books, which they used
for classes that they hold in unusual places like dumpsites and
cemeteries.
Efren’s parents were of humble means. His father is tricycle
driver and his mother is housewife. They lived in an open
dumpsite somewhere in Cavite City. He grew up in the midst of
poverty . He graduated from gradeschool and highschool with
the help of scholarships and financial assistance.
 EFREN PENAFLORIDA ( “Efren”)
He graduated from San Sebastian College- Recoletos De Cavite
with a degree of Compter Technology. He continued his studies
at Cavite State University with a degree Bachelor of Secondary
Education and graduated as Cumlaude in 2006.
On November 22, 2009, he was awarded as the CNN Hero of the
Year attributing this honor to the work he had done in his
pushcart project.