11

Personal
Development
Quarter 1 – Module 4:
The Challenges of Middle and Late
Adolescence
 What I Need to Know

This material was crafted to give you – learners, the right amount of
assistance for you to absorb and acquire all the necessary concepts and nature
comprising oneself. Lessons are bounded on the performance and content
standard, learning competencies and level of the learners. This also used languages
appropriate to the understanding of the varied types of students’ learning
acquisition. Sequence of the lessons adhered the arrangement of the competencies
as reflected on the DepEd’s curriculum guide for this course.

The module is entitled Developing the Whole Person.

After going through this module, you are expected to:

1. discuss how facing the challenges during adolescence, you may able to
clarify and manage the demands of teen years;
2. express your feeling on the expectations of the significant people around
you, such as your parents, siblings, friends, teachers, community leaders;
and
3. make affirmations that help you become more lovable and capable as an
adolescent.

What I Know

Read the statement below. The following are the common challenges that an
adolescents experienced. Write the appropriate code that corresponds to the
situations. Choose your answer inside the box.

PC- Physical Challenges IC- Educational Challenges

EC- Emotional Challenges SC- Social Challenges
BC- Behavioral Challenges

_____1. Rina became conscious when her pimples started to become visible on her
face.

_____2. James is annoyed when his voice is cracking when he speaks.

_____3. Helen gets irritated when her monthly period is near.

_____4. Ken enjoyed being with his friends. But there are times his friends do
smoking and drink liquor. Though he don’t want to join them night
clubbing, he has no choice because they are befriends.
______5. When Lena ask permission to his father that she will go to the mall by
herself. He never allow her because her father thinks that she is still a
child.

______6. John’s friends always cuts class. One time his peers invited him to eat in
the canteen even they still have class. He refused, but they told him that
he is not part of the group anymore.

______7. Joy gets conscious when her armpit is perspiring, because of this she
keeps her distance to others.

______8. Ethan is asking her mother to buy him new clothes because his old
clothes were already small.

______9. When Joey is still a child, he always go to sleep early but when he turned
13 he spent more time playing gadget at night.

______10. Ken’s classmates are much taller compare to him, especially the girls.
Because of this he started to feel awkward when they tease him.

______11. Mark refuse to come along with his mother to the mall. Because he is
afraid that people might say that he is a mama’s boy.
______12. Jen became overly sensitive even in a simple matter. Because of this, her
friends avoided her.

______13. Justin’s grade decline when his habit in reading loss and spend more
time in the computer shop.

______14. Jonas’ interest to girls started when he found out that one of his
classmates had a crush on him.

______15. Ana started to eat less because she is afraid to get fat.
 Lesson
The Challenges of Middle and
4 Late Adolescence

In the previous lesson we understand that changes in the body and way of
thinking toward others is normal to individual who turned in to adolescence. Thus,
these dramatic changes in the physical appearances, self-identity issues, seeking
for more independence from the family, vocational choices, is a big challenge for
them.

What’s In

Inside the first circle, write your name, then in the second circle, inside it
write the problems that you encounter during your adolescence. In the third circle
write down the solutions you think can solve your problems. Then in the last circle,
write the people you think would be a big help to overcome those challenges.

Processing Questions:
1. What do you think the representation of the circle to your life?
2. How your support system help you to overcome the challenges in your life?
3. Is there an instance that you don’t even understand what do you go
through? How can you cope up with this situation?
 What’s New

Challenges of Middle and Late Adolescence

Adolescence is the transition period between childhood and early adulthood.
The most rapid stage of human development. The many physical, sexual, cognitive,
social, and emotional changes that happen during this time can bring anticipation
and anxiety for both children and families. For instance the feeling of sadness
because they are no longer a child but feel happy at the same time because of the
anticipation of independence, but the desire of freedom will encounter more
parental objection.

Here is the list of the most common challenges that an adolescence

experiencing:
1. Physical Changes
 Development of full breast in girls can be awkward in
the beginning. Girls may start to feel conscious about their figure
 Changes of voice and appearance of facial hair in boys
Is perhaps the most prominent change that takes place during
adolescence.
 Acne is one of the major problems.
 Muscle gain sometimes lead to excessive body weight in teens.
 Body odors becomes evident.
 Girls start their periods.
2. Emotional changes and Problems
 Teenagers are often confused about their role and are torn between
their responsibilities as growing adults their desires as children.
 They tend to be overly emotional.
 They are vulnerable to crying.
 Mood swings are common among them.
 Bodily changes result in self-consciousness.
 Feeling of inferiority or superiority may arise at this time.
 Sexual feeling arise to them. Feelings and thoughts about sex can
trigger a sense of guilt.
3. Social Changes
 Physiologically distance self from parents.
 Identify with peer group
 Social acceptance depends on observable traits or roles.
 Need to be independent from all adults.
 Ambivalent about sexual relationships, sexual behavior is exploratory.
4. Behavioral Challenges
 Significant development change in the brain makes teens moody, tired
and difficult to deal with.
 The raging hormones in teenage boys can even push them to get into
physical confrontations.
 As a part of their new-found independence, they may also want to try
new things and take risks, resulting in careless behavior.
 Peer pressure and the need to ‘fit in’ them behave in a certain way or
develop certain habits that are hard to break.
 Dressing, hairstyle, and sense of fashion also change, mostly to
something that you may not approve of.
 The most troubling behavior is perhaps hanging out with problem
kids and adapting to a dangerous lifestyle.
 Lying is one of the common behavioral issues. They may lie to avoid
confrontation with parents or out of fear.
5. Educational Challenges
 Pressure to perform academically and obtain college admission can be
stressful and tend them to be moody.
 Juggling school work, extra-curricular activities and chores at home
can be tiring.
 Distractions at school can result in poor academic performance.

These can be more difficult for the teens to face these challenges alone. Family
and relatives play an essential role in their lives because they are the one who give
support. It is important that they feel loved and accepted.

Aside from the family, people around you like your relatives, friends, teachers,
these people play a big role in your life because will help you to understand what
you go through. They will guide you and help you to know your worth as an
individual

The following are some important tips that will help you to overcome
challenges.

Know your Values

Your values are what you believe in, what you think is right or wrong, and
what is most important to you. Decisions that you’ll make will be based on your
values. You draw your values from a variety of sources, such as parents, family
friends, religion, etc. However, do not ‘borrow’ other people’s values- let your values
be yours.

Draw up a Plan for your Life

Many successful people set a targets for themselves and are goal-oriented. Have
a plan of what you want and how to go about getting it. Never wait till you get to
the bridge before looking for ways to cross it- decide ahead what you want achieves
by the time you are 20, 30, 50, etc.

Develop Yourself
Your goals will remain dream unless you develop yourself. Read books on
diverse topics; gather facts about successful people and how they dealt with the
difficult situation they faced. In short broaden your horizon.

Have a Role Model

Decisions about, sex, drugs and alcohol are usually some of the toughest
decisions you will have to make as an adolescent. Before you make decisions, get
facts about each choice, think properly about them, i.e. weigh the pros and cons;
and discuss available options with your parents, a trusted friend or adult.
Be Assertive
Being assertive means expressing your view about an issue without hurting the
other person’s feeling. Behavior that enhance assertiveness include honesty,
speaking for yourself communication your feelings as they come up, instead of
waiting; and being direct, i.e. use the “I” word. Communicate your feelings and
don’t be cajoled into doing things contrary to your values. However, don’t be
aggressive-aggressive behavior shows a lack of concern for the other person’s
feelings.

Learn a Skill
The feeling that you have a skill is a positive one. There are various skills that
you can learn- computer skills, teaching skills, writing skills, drawing skills or
acting skills. These skills could in turn fetch your some money and give you some
measure of independence. However, you must be ready to meet and overcome
disappointments. You must be prepared to work as hard and as long as the
situation demands.

Take Advantage of Holiday Periods

Holiday periods are not meant only for fun and play- they are also a time to do
something different from the routine school work. Holiday periods can be spent
learning poetry, bookkeeping, car maintenance, interior decorating, etc; or
acquiring knowledge about issues that range from wildlife and nature to politics
and government. These you could do and still have fun.

Believe in Yourself
Above all, believe in yourself. Many successful people are where they are today,
because of the confidence they have in their abilities. Talking and thinking
positively about you can rise above every difficult situation and make a success of
them. Do not let negative comment from people set you back. Growing up is all
about making decisions- some good, some bad. However, do not let bad decisions
discourage you. A popular song sums it up. “ there’s a hero if you look inside your
heart…”

What is It

During the stage of adolescence, teens are experiencing to some internal and
external struggles. It is a vital stage where they experienced a sudden change of
emotions, feeling of loneliness and fighting for self-identity. Many of them were
misunderstood. This the time when their parents are most needed. Parent should
talk to their teens and affirm them that they were loved and accepted.

Right approach is important. A proper way of communication will help them to

understand their selves and can result a right decisions.

Stop-Think-Answer

Evaluate yourself using the following questions.

1. What are the challenges I encountered during my adolescence? Name

five.
2. How did I surpassed these issues?
3. Who are the people who have helped me to overcome these challenges?
Name at least 3 persons
4. How these challenges would help preparing my early adulthood?
5. How could you become a more lovable and capable person in spite of the
 What’s More

Activity 1.1 Facing the Challenges during Adolescence

The transition period between childhood and early adulthood is quite difficult.
This is the most crucial stage because this is the time when they start defining
their selves. Remember that ach adolescent experiences, individual changes and
growth has different rates. Parental guidance is needed in this stage of life of an
individual. It is not bad to seek help from the.
In this part of the module you are to do the following things to enable yourself
gained skills of the challenges you are experiencing during your adolescent years.
Learning the Skill: Identifying your own challenges
1. Write an essay about the challenges of the adolescents that they went
through during this stage.
2. Read the “Adolescence: A Unique Period of Challenges and Opportunity for
positive Development” (https://www.apa.org.)
Briefly discuss the following
1. “Challenges”
2. ‘Significant people’
3. “Our ability to handle life’s challenges is a measure of our strength of
character” Les Brown
Learning the Skill: Read and analyze the statement for each number. Write your
possible solution/ decision to the challenges stated below.

1. Your friend ask you to smoke cigarette. He said that if you don’t try it you will
2. out
be Every
to month, when your monthly period is near you feel uneasy and hot
their group.
headed. Your attitude became unexplainable. One time when your young brother
accidentally spilled a water on your dress you scolded him loudly resulting him to
cry.
What do people expect from me in this situation?

3. Your high school crush bumped you at the corridor, your heartbeat go fast as
you stare him. You noticed his clear and radiant face while yours is not. Pimples
all over to your face started to be visible.
What do people expect from me in this situation?
 4. Your teacher keeps on reminding your section to be hygienic because he/she
smells a bad odor. You are aware that your close friend has it.

What do people expect from me in this situation?

What do people expect from me in this situation?

5. Your parents is always busy, they don’t have enough time for you. You feel
neglected and your grades started to fall down.

What do people expect from me in this situation?

Processing Questions:
1. What do you consider in answering the statement?
2. How did you feel after answering them?
3. Have you experienced the same situation above? How do you handle it?

What I Have Learned

1. Physical Challenges happens due to the hormonal level of the people

2. Emotional Challenges refers to changes of emotions due to the hormonal
imbalance
3. Social Challenges become difficult when a teen asked for privacy and
independency.
4. Behavioral Challenges the adolescent can lead to impulsive behavior
which can be harmful to them.
5. Educational Challenges refer to the stress that an adolescent
experiencing to their academic performance and school activities.
6. Significant people are important person in our life especially family and
relatives.