I was born and raised in the small town of Odessa, Texas. I have one sister, and I grew up in a single-family home. My mom and grandmother provided for me and my sister financially and emotionally. My father was absent throughout my life due to his addiction, so I did not have a father figure for most of my life. I was raised in a close-knit family, and my closest relationships were with my mom, grandma, and sister. I also lived with my grandma for part of my childhood, which positively impacted my childhood. The move was one of my earliest childhood memories because it was a significant change. I grew up as a timid child, and staying in unfamiliar places was hard for me then. This was a fond memory because I had to be out of my comfort zone. I was significantly attached to my mother and would get severe separation anxiety when she wasn't present. I attended public school from pre-k to 2^nd grade, and then my mom enrolled me in a private school because of my challenge with anxiety. My earliest educational memory was when I learned to read in 1^st grade. That was an exciting time and helped boost my social and academic confidence. Private school was a great experience, but adjusting to public school in the 7th grade was challenging. I would consider the transition to public school a significant milestone because that change helped me learn to live through my fears. After middle school, I managed my anxiety and excelled in academics. Middle school through high school was a great time in my life, and it helped me become the person I am today.

I graduated high school and went off to college at Angelo State, and that was the first time I felt like I had the freedom to be and do what I wanted. That freedom brought good as well as challenges in my life. I got into a serious relationship during my sophomore year of college, significantly impacting my early adulthood. I also had my first child, which was a significant milestone. Having a child gave me a purpose and pushed me to work harder to achieve. My relationship became abusive, which took a toll on my mental health. I was not mature enough to process what was occurring, which made me spiral downward. I vividly remember those moments, and I turned to drugs and alcohol to cope with the pain. I and my mom's relationship also grew stronger during this time because she helped me raise my daughter when I could not. From the age of 23 through 28 were some of my darkest times, and I also feel like those challenges have helped me become a better mother, daughter, teacher, and friend. I also had my son during this dark time, and I had this feeling of despair. When I was 28, I married and was expecting my 3^rd child, and my life seemed to be coming together. I then lost my son at 38 weeks to a rare hematologic condition, and that moment contributed to my relapse. This was one of the most traumatic events that I experienced, and I was mentally unprepared. At the age of 29, I was finally able to receive the help I needed to break free from addiction. I went to rehab, worked through my past traumas, and learned ways to cope and deal with them. After getting the help I needed, I became a teacher and enrolled in graduate school. The past couple of years have been some of my best, and I am learning to become my best version.

I am completing a developmental autobiography and need help relating it to Erikson and Piaget's theory of development?