Personal Narrative: Breaking The Cycle Of Powerlessness

At least three systemic processes are at work around Kiara’s pregnancy and birth. The first change begins when Wendy choose to break the cycle of powerlessness. While living in a homeless shelter, alone and without support, Wendy finds strength in herself to continue her pregnancy. In her interview she remembers,
I said if I get rid of her, I’ll never forgive myself. If I let this happen again. And I made that promise to never to do this again. And I had to tell myself: Stop running. The fear should be over now. Handle this. The whole time I was pregnant, regardless of what happens, I was gonna love this child and take care of this child” (Shipler, 2005, 148).
In making this courageous decision, Wendy went from a first order change of repeated victimization to a second order change. She chose to fight to keep her daughter before and after her birth. The second systemic process sadly stays a first …show more content…
Her marriage begins as a first order change as she nags and argues with him to take responsibility. A more severe marriage schism and second order change takes place when domestic violence erupts and the marriage ends in divorce. After her divorce, Wendy might have returned to the homeostasis of broken relationships and poverty, instead, she joins a Welfare to Work program that offers her the outside support she desperately needs to continue to personal growth and self-leadership. Welfare to Work is a government funded program that assists employees with job skills and offers tax breaks to companies who hire participants. When Wendy decides to participate in this program, she institutes a second order change. This second order change drops back down to a first order change when Kiara’s condition worsens and she becomes her full-time caregiver. She remains hopeful of continuing to increase her job skills while at home with her