Resilience and Adaptability: An Adult Learners Journey from Chicagos Southside

Quiana Hester ABS 300 Final Paper As I reflect on my journey as an adult learner, I recognize how my experiences, relationships, and roles have shaped my understanding of the world and my approach to education. My life has been a combination of significant events. I experienced both personal and professional growth and the influence of the vibrant but challenging environment in which I was raised. I have developed values that have influenced my view of self, others, and the world in general. My experiences align with Robert Kegan’s theory of adult development that includes the self –authorizing mind stage where people gain objectivity in the decisions based on values and beliefs (Helsing, 2023). My views and experiences are the result of the influence other people, particularly my family, have over my nurturing experience. My personal and professional growth has been in line with the education I have received from my parents and family in general during my personal development. Kegan’s theory demonstrates that during the instrumental mind stage of development, adults define and pursue their personal goals in life. My career path and personal life have been in line with the goals I have set in life and the experiences that have influenced my personal objectives. These moments have not only informed my values but also reflected the theories of adult development and learning I have come to study. Growing up on the South Side of Chicago, in the Woodlawn neighborhood, has given me my first lessons in resilience and adaptability. My community was full of culture and strength; however, I also witnessed the systemic challenges that many families like mine had to navigate. These experiences taught me to value hard work, persistence, and the support of those around me. My personal background and the lessons I had as a child have a significant influence on my capacity to withstand challenges in life. I leaner how to view the world more objectively and to look beyond the challenges and difficulties I faced in my life. I gained significantly from the explicit and subtle lessons from my parents and other members of my family on the importance of resilience in achieving personal and professional growth. My experience has influenced my approach to resisting unfair and unjust treatment against myself and other people in the personal and professional capacities. I recognize that I may be the target of injustice and intend to stand against perceptions and actions that portray unjust treatment. Looking back, I see how Kolb’s experiential learning theory applies to my life since I have learnt