For as long as I can remember, university has always been something that was in my future. It was never a question of if I would be able to go, it was a matter of where I would be going. I was fortunate enough not to have to worry about money, or having to restrict myself to schools close to where I grew up. After reflecting on my path to higher education, I will now demonstrate how principles associated with life course theory, as well as exchange theory, had a large hand in my decision to attend university.
So how exactly do the life course and social exchange theory intertwine with my life? There are two of the principles from Elder et al.’s article for which I partially credit my success. The principle of agency, which looks at an individual’s …show more content…
My parents’ support further provided me with the confidence to attend a post-secondary institute on the other side of the country. The principle of time and place further aided in my ability to go to university; as Elder et al. state “individuals and birth cohorts are influenced by historical context and place” (2003, p.12). I am lucky enough to have grown up in North America, in a period where women’s rights are paramount, and there are no repressive laws restricting my education.
Moreover, my parents and I have been practicing principles associated with exchange theory for years, though I never considered it until now. The life course theory’s fifth principle, the linked lives principle, can be applied to the relationship I have with my parents in regards to exchange theory. I was, and still am, affected by my parents’ finances. When financial hardships arise, this can cause depression among parents, which spills over onto the child (Elder et al. 2003, p.13). I am blessed in that my parents did not have this hardship and viewed a university degree as beneficial enough to be worth its cost, or according to exchange theory, the benefits of their daughter having a university education outweighed the monetary costs of tuition. Furthermore, they know that upon graduation and settling into a career, I will be able to …show more content…
Had it not been for the favourable application of exchange theory when considering the importance of education, it is likely that I would not be attending the University of British Columbia
So how exactly do the life course and social exchange theory intertwine with my life? There are two of the principles from Elder et al.’s article for which I partially credit my success. The principle of agency, which looks at an individual’s …show more content…
My parents’ support further provided me with the confidence to attend a post-secondary institute on the other side of the country. The principle of time and place further aided in my ability to go to university; as Elder et al. state “individuals and birth cohorts are influenced by historical context and place” (2003, p.12). I am lucky enough to have grown up in North America, in a period where women’s rights are paramount, and there are no repressive laws restricting my education.
Moreover, my parents and I have been practicing principles associated with exchange theory for years, though I never considered it until now. The life course theory’s fifth principle, the linked lives principle, can be applied to the relationship I have with my parents in regards to exchange theory. I was, and still am, affected by my parents’ finances. When financial hardships arise, this can cause depression among parents, which spills over onto the child (Elder et al. 2003, p.13). I am blessed in that my parents did not have this hardship and viewed a university degree as beneficial enough to be worth its cost, or according to exchange theory, the benefits of their daughter having a university education outweighed the monetary costs of tuition. Furthermore, they know that upon graduation and settling into a career, I will be able to …show more content…
Had it not been for the favourable application of exchange theory when considering the importance of education, it is likely that I would not be attending the University of British Columbia