Stephanie Preston

U6 IRE #8
Social Clock. You may choose to respond to this assignment yourself or interview another
person. We often hear people commenting that their biological or social clock is
ticking. What are the settings on your social clock? At what age do (did) you expect to be
married? Have children? If you do (did) not marry by this time, what would you do? If you
were told that you could not have children, what would you do? How would the absence of a
spouse and/or children impact your plans for the future?

As far as my social clock is concerned I am ahead of the times. I am 21 years old and
have been married for 2 years and I have a 1 year old child. Most of the rest of my friends are
either just now getting married or they are still single and just going to college. When I was
younger I didnt think I would ever get married. I was never one to date anyone. Then at the end
of my 10
th
grade year I started dating my husband and about a year later wanted to get married as
soon as possible. So I guess I did anticipate getting married around 19 or 20. I didnt think I
would have children as quickly as I did. I got pregnant about a month after I got married but we
both wanted a kid. I think my original plans fell more around the lines of going to college and
getting a career before I settle to have children. If I had not married by this time I would imagine
I would still be living at home with my parents and I would be heavily attending college. I also
know that if I hadnt gotten married my major would have never changed.
While I was pregnant I realized how much I loved the whole pregnancy and birth
experience and decided I wanted to be a Midwife. Up until this point I had always wanted to be a
Vet. The absence of a husband and children would have impacted my plans tremendously.
Before I got married I my plans to become a Vet were perfectly laid out. Without being married
or having children I would have never realized what I really wanted to do. Establishing a
vocational identity is considered part of growing up, not only by developmental psychologist but
also by emerging adults themselves (Berger 2014, p. 411). If I had not gotten married I would
have not been able to find my true vocational identity.






Reference List

Berger, K. S. (2014). Invitation to the life span (2nd ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers.