Running head: INTERVIEW PAPER 1

Interview Paper
Yesenia Cabral
Pacific Oaks College
HD 320 Contemporary Urban Adolescents
February 15, 2016
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Who are you? (What type of person are? Why?) 1. I would say I'm awkward. I'm a person
that has a hard time communicating and holding a conversation with others, but yet, a good
listener. I'm a girl with dreams and a person that would like justice for everyone. I like to put
myself in other people's shoes, and I enjoy time to myself. I'm an introvert.

What kind of social and political context did you grow up in?
2. In terms of political and social awareness, I didn't really have an influence. I've only known
what I've seen in the news and from over hearing conversations. My family is not big on having
favorites within the political parties, hence the lack of interest for politics. Anything that
happened outside in the world has only been known through the media for me.

Describe the world you came from (your family, community, school)? How did they shape
you? When you were in high school? 3. The world I came from revolves around family. My
family is very close and my relatives are a good support system when facing difficult situations
or emergencies. I would say I have been fortunate to have a loving family. I grew up in a diverse
community in the San Gabriel Valley where I had classmates of Asian, Hindu, Hispanic and
Anglo backgrounds. Because of that, I grew up with an open mind towards the ideas and beliefs
of my classmates in elementary and in high school.
Do you feel that you have had to overcome any obstacles or hardships so far? 4. One of my
constant hardships that I keep struggling with is my social anxiety. I've had social anxiety as far
as I can remember. I've never been comfortable around a crowd of people let alone in a public
event. To some degree it has become better, due to having to interact constantly with people, but
then again there are times where it becomes unsettling and I have to be alone for a couple of
minutes.

Describe a time when deliberately chose (as an adolescent) to not engage in an activity
/process that you were supposed to do participate? 5. I can't recall a time when I went against
an activity I was supposed to participate in. If I knew I had to participate in anything, especially
in school, I would abide and cooperate, for my sake.

Describe a time when you demonstrated resilience as an adolescent? 6. Resilience for me

came later in life, sometime around college. As an adolescent, I can't recall a time where I had
to recover from an obstacle. It was during college when I had to overcome challenges and
surpass them.

Describe the most significance support system that existed for you as a teen outside of your
nuclear family unit? 7. Outside of my nuclear family, the best support system I've had has been
my friends. Although us three come from different backgrounds Mexican, Peruvian and white,
we've shared the same troubles and moments of joy together. If things were not well in our life,
we all served as an escape route for a little bit of happiness and advice.

Do you feel that your family and school supported you or not? Why? 8. I believe I had a
wonderful support system as I grew up. Both my family and school, (my college professors) have
given me the strength and resources to continue towards my degree in French. My parents never
pressured me to be what I did not want to be, and my professors always gave me the time to help
me out when I stumbled upon problems relating to my degree.
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Dolly is a twenty four year old women who lives in the San Gabriel Valley. She is an educated

person having obtained her bachelor’s degree about two years ago. Dolly is a shy and quite

person. Whom I feel gets taken for granted due to her shyness. During our interview I could see

that because of where Dolly lives she has had support form teachers as oppose to someone who

might have grown up in east LA, Compton or basically in any low income part of the greater Los

Angeles County. I could see how her environment helped her become into the person she is. She

is open minded and is very helpful to others no matter what their background is. Also, I felt that

she was holding back a little now this could be from her shyness but I have known her for two

years, still she gave me really short “to the point” answers. She started out fine but then became

quite serious.

Who are you? (What type of person are you? Why?)

Quiet, Introvert; I like to process before I speak, if necessary (giggling) but sometimes I do get
myself in trouble.

What kind of social and political context did you grow up in?
Democratic household; being a child of immigrants, they always watch the news like 24/7 to see
what is happening in the world. So basically nothing was ever filtered. My parents both worked
really hard to provide for our family.

Describe the world you came from (your family, community, school)? How did they shape
you? When you were in high school?
Well because my parents are immigrants I would say I was very family oriented. They always
made sure that we took care of each other especially when they weren’t around. You know
because they worked all the time. And compared to other Families I have spoken to, we are close
and we don't hate each other (Laughing). Growing up in Alhambra has also made me aware of
the diversity in the world; having classmates from practically everywhere in the world. That’s
what I love most of where I grew up all the different people I got to see and meet on a daily basis

Do you feel that you have had to overcome any obstacles or hardships so far?
Being the quiet one for practically my whole life I have had to force myself to be more out there
because I am not a fan of human interaction. But finding a job in a hospitality based setting has
made me a little more comfortable with confrontation.
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Do you feel that because your parents are immigrants that that was a hardship somehow? I
don’t think so. My parents always made sure we were taken care of.

Describe a time when deliberately chose (as an adolescent) to not engage in an activity
/process that you were supposed to do participate?
There probably is a couple of school related ones but the only one I can think of is Prom. I guess
everyone just expects you to go to Prom but I wasn't even remotely social in high school, so I
thought what was the point? On wasting money on something so dumb when I can buy myself
something with that money. Something that I want or needed.

Describe a time when you demonstrated resilience as an adolescent?

I don't recall a struggle besides just life itself there is always an obstacle but I don't let it stress
me out. And that itself has come to the attention of my family, they used to ask me why I wasn't
stressed about school as if I wasn't doing the best I can and I would just think am I supposed to?
I applied myself to get straight A’s just to show them I don't need to stress out to get them.

Describe the most significance support system that existed for you as a teen outside of your
nuclear family unit?
For sure my two best and only friends. I think I am more comfortably around them two then
anyone else. Having known them for more than 15years, we practically have the same belief
system and we can always help each other out because we know what each other is thinking.

Do you feel that your family and school supported you or not? Why?

For the most part, both always pushed me to do things I don't really want to. and to please them
I have just done it. But in things I don't agree with I ask my friends to confirm if what am I
thinking is correct and they have always supported me.

During this interview Violet seemed more at ease with me even though this was our first time

meeting. She was more open to the questions that I asked her even though she says she shy she

seemed quite the opposite to me. Violet is also twenty four year women. And she happens to be

one of Dolly’s best friends. I don’t know much about her background. Other then what she said

in her interview. What I can see is how these two are friends they have a similar background. I

can see how their environment has shaped them into the people they are. I can see that because

both sets of parents worked but weren’t always there lead them to be independent following what

they want to do. I can see Bronfenbrenner microsystem mesosystem and exosystem (p18. Hirsch,

Stawicki) all working here. The micro with how close these ladies are with their families with
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the interactions they have with one other and with providing support and guidance for each other.

The school that they attendant and the community in which they grew up is also small, very tight

nit, and diverse.

In Dolly’s case the see the stresses for getting good grades and her working really hard to make

sure she gets into a good school this reminds me of the PVEST(p.40) which says that the net

stress engagement is comprised of either challenges or support present for this individual but also

for Violet the fact that she didn’t stress about getting good grades in school but proved to her

family that she was capable of doing so show I feel the types of person she is.
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References

Creasey, G., & Jarvis, P. (2013). Adolescent development and school achievement in urban
communities. New York, NY. Routledge.