Emerging adulthood is characterized by great learning and growth, both physically and psychologically. This stage is full of changes: moving out from under parental authority, asserting your independence, and going to college. (Berger, 2016) Beth says that more freedom and the feeling of entering the real world is one of the main differences in this stage. She …show more content…
Berger states, “Parents can be the most important bond in a young adult’s life.” (2016) This principle is certainly true of Beth. Despite her desire to exert her independence, her family play a big role in her life and she dislikes being so far away from home. She reflected that “her parents and sister are the most important people in her life.” Consequently, separation from family was one of the main things that makes her sad. Because of this separation from family, Beth is striving to form a support system at college. She says making friends and meeting people is very important to her. This is an example of Erikson’s stage of intimacy vs. isolation, in which young adults are challenged to form deep connections which others. (Berger, 2016) Beth is doing well with this stage. She told me she has made a lot of friends in the new environment of college, more than she ever had in high school. This is consistent with that Berger states, “Because emerging adults are entering the worlds of work, college, and community; they have more friends- than at any other stage of life.”