Reflection 1: Bronfenbrenner's Ecology of You in CYC

This assignment, titled "Reflection 1 - The Ecology of You," requires the student to apply Urie Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory to their personal development. The student analyzes the impact of various microsystems (self, family, school, peers, and neighborhood), mesosystems (interactions between microsystems), and exosystems (external factors like parents' jobs) on their life. For each system, the student identifies both negative and positive influences, providing descriptions and reflections on how these factors affected them during childhood and continue to impact them in the present. The assignment adheres to APA style, including a title page, running head, page numbers, in-text citations, and a reference page, demonstrating an understanding of the course material and the application of ecological systems theory to personal experiences within the context of child and youth care (CYC) practice. The student explores how these systems have shaped their journey and self-awareness, essential for becoming a competent CYC practitioner. The student reflects on how their environment has influenced their upbringing and relationships, both past and present. The student also discusses risk/negative factors and protective/buffering factors in their personal life and relates it to learning in class.

Running head: REFLECTION 1 1
Reflection 1 – The Ecology of You
Student’s Name
Institution

REFLECTION 1 2
Reflection 1- The Ecology of You
Microsystems (Negative Impact on Development)

REFLECTION 1 3
Microsystems
Examples in your microsystem
 The Child (Self): Temperament, personality, sex,
age, health
 Family: mother, father, siblings, grandparents
 child’s home,
 School: principal, teacher, guidance, daycare,
 Peers
 Neighborhood/Community
 Affects how the child grows.
For each of the
following, list one
factor that you feel
might have
negatively
impacted your
development
Provide a description and
reflection explaining the
impact (then and now)
1. SELF I was a slow to
warm up child
I had a low activity level when
I was a child. Also I had a low
intensity of mood. My parents
always tried to cheer me up
but to no avail. This character
continues to affect me today
since my friends often tell me
that I tend to be difficult to
deal with when things have
not gone according to plan. At
one time when a project that
we were working on failed to
be taken up, I alienated my
partners and resolved to find
the solution individually.
2. FAMILY
Noisy home
In a family of seven, my home
was always noisy and I found
it difficult to concentrate when
doing homework. Hence, I
disliked the home
environment and would only
spend brief periods in the
house. Today, I stay away
from noisy place and I cannot
get along with noisy people.
3. SCHOOL My school principal My school principal always
emphasized on discipline in a
harshly manner. He was fond
of shouting and commanding
other teachers when they

REFLECTION 1 4
failed to foster discipline
among students. There was
tension and fear whenever the
principal was around. Today, I
tend to dissociate myself with
people who have a similar
character to my former school
principle. As such, I avoid
people who shout and make
demands.
4. PEERS Bruce I always admired Bruce for all
the wrong reasons when I was
a child. He was tough at
school and no one would dare
cross his path. I approached
him once so that I could
befriend him but he turned me
down. This rejection impacted
me negatively that I started to
look down upon myself. I even
questioned my self-worth. All
my life I have struggled to pull
myself up when I am rejected
by others.
5. NEIGHBOURHOOD/COMMUNITY Unsafe
neighbourhood
When I was nine, I lived in a
neighbourhood that was not
always safe given that many
people claimed that their
homes were broken into. This
prompted many people leave.
Today, I am always shy of
handling theft cases and living
in such areas.

REFLECTION 1 5
Microsystems (Positive Impact on Development)

REFLECTION 1 6
Microsystems
Examples in your
microsystem
 Your Self
 Your family
 Your School and
teacher
 Your peer group
 The media
(favourite TV
show, books,
movies, video
games, etc.)
 Your
neighbourhood or
surrounding
community
For each of the
following, list one
factor that you feel
might have
buffered or
positively impact
your development
Provide a description and reflection explaining the impact
(then and now)
1. SELF
My temperament
as a child can be
described as easy.
I was predictable and calm. It was easy for me to
approach new experiences positively a trait which I
maintain till today. As a child it was easy for me to
adapt to new environments easily. This could be seen
in the way I made new friends when my parents
moved me to a different school. Similarly, I currently
find it easy to make new friends and adapt to new
environment
2. FAMILY Hardworking mom My mom always worked hard to take care of her
children and balance the same with work. She took
care of all the house chores because she believed it
was a mother’s job. Likewise, she gave her all at work
in the process gaining a promotion. She has inspired
me to be a hard worker. I also strive to manage
leisure with school work ensuring that both areas
receive equal time. She set a high standard for me to
achieve success in future and I still strive to be like
her.
3. SCHOOL My mathematics
teacher
Ms. Grace, my mathematics teacher was so
passionate about the subject that she believed that
no student was capable in failing at this subject. I
was one of the few in class who feared maths and
going from one test to another, I continued to fail. Ms.
Grace arranged for individual tuition and she always
encouraged me to approach the subject with

REFLECTION 1 7
positivity. Eventually, her passion, determination and
belief in me enabled me to make great strides in the
subject and managed to become good at it. I admired
her devotion and I apply it whenever a situation
seems problematic.
4. PEERS Supportive
friends
My peers both at school and at home were always
supportive of each other. In difficult times, they
would always encourage each other. I learnt to
acknowledge that although some situations may be
difficult, there is always light at the end of the tunnel
provided that I face it positively and with
determination to find a solution.
5. NEIGHBOU
RHOOD/
COMMUNIT
Y
My
community
Growing up in the Caribbean, people from the
community always held high expectations for the
brightest in the society. I received the same amount
of pressure when I was a child with those who knew
me always talking high of me. Today, this pressure
has impacted on me to work hard and strive to
achieve my dreams.

REFLECTION 1 8
Mesosystem (Negative Impact on Development)

REFLECTION 1 9
MESOSYSTEM
Examples in your
Mesosystem
 How your parents interacted
with your peers
 How your parents interacted
with your school
 Whether your parents helped
with school work
 How your community
supported your school or
activities (sports…)
For each of
the
following,
list
individual
micro
systems
that might
have
interacted
with
another
micro
system in
your
environmen
t that you
feel might
have put
you at risk
Provide a description and
reflection explaining the
impact (then and now)
1. FAMILY + (another
Micro system) =
impact on me
My dad
and my
next door
neighbour
My dad and my next door
neighbour, Mr. James
were close friends. They
would spend most nights
drinking till the wee
hours. These habits have
impacted on me since I
often waste a lot of time
with some friends playing
video games instead of
engaging in meaningful
work.
2. SCHOOL+ (another
Micro system) =
impact on me
My class
teacher
and my
mother
My mother never got
along with my class
teacher and whenever I
dropped marks in the
final exams she was quick
to blame the teacher.
Today, I tend to blame
others for outcomes that
they could not have
prevented such as

REFLECTION 1 10
missing a bus.
3. PEERS + (another
Micro system) =
impact on me
My friend
Bruce and
French
teacher
Bruce was good in French
class and the always
applauded. I have come to
associate social status
with doing well in every
aspect in life.
4. NEIGHBOURHOOD/
COMMUNITY +
(another Micro
system) = impact
on me
The school
and
neighbourh
ood
Our neighbourhood was
not always safe and the
school was quick to
associate security
problems with individuals
from neighbourhood. I
have come to blame my
neighbourhood for the
problems that many of
peers who grew up with
me currently face.

REFLECTION 1 11
Mesosystem (Positive Impact on Development)

REFLECTION 1 12
MESOSYSTEM
Examples in your
Mesosystem
 How your parents
interacted with your peers
 How your parents
interacted with your school
 Whether your parents
helped with school work
 How your community
supported your school or
activities (sports…)
For each of
the
following,
list
individual
micro
systems
that might
have
interacted
with
another
micro
system in
your
environme
nt that you
feel might
have
buffered or
positively
impact
your
developme
nt
Provide a description and
reflection explaining the
impact (then and now)
1. FAMILY + (another
Micro system) =
impact on me
My dad
and the
school
My father unlike my mom
was always willing to help
me with schoolwork. This
has encouraged me to
always seek assistance
from the faculty members
whenever am faced with a
problem at school or any
other area for example
counselling.
2. SCHOOL+ (another
Micro system) =
impact on me
My school
and my
community
Regardless of the
perceptions held at school
regarding our
neighbourhood, the
community was always
willing to assist the