PSY 246
Nadia Maura
Erik Erikson: Identifying and Defining Which Stage of Life Interviewee is Currently In
For week 9’s assignment, I interviewed my grandmother, Ruth, better known as Ita (short
for Abuelita). She is an incredibly lively and active 72-year-old woman, who looks only half her
age (she has genuinely been mistaken for being my mother my entire life). She resides in Las
Vegas, Nevada by way of Puerto Rico and Bronx, New York, working as an accountant at the
University of Las Vegas. From what I know she has had quite a trying life but has always been
able to maintain a disposition of energizing optimism.
Pre-COVID, she kept a pretty strict schedule of getting up early for work, going to the
gym afterward and returning home in the evening to walk her dog before getting ready for bed.
When asked how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted her life she replied that it made her
realize just how much she took for granted in her day-to-day such as going to the gym and
interacting with her peers at both work and the gym. It also made her realize that working from
home was an option that she thoroughly enjoyed due to the positive effects it has on her overall
well-being. Her only regrets pre-quarantine are wishes to have taken more time off to travel
internationally and volunteer.
She doesn’t seem to regret any of her choices or mistakes in life and finds a way to find a
positive outlook, and gain more wisdom and insight from her experiences. Her advice to future
generations is to keep a healthy mind-body-spirit by working out regularly, maintaining a healthy
diet and regularly exercising the mind in order to keep it sharp. She suggests turning passions
into profit and urges young people to keep distance between themselves and their vices. She
believes family is what truly makes life meaningful.
Ruth is definitely in Erik Erikson’s Eighth Stage of Life, Old Age. She has lived an
eventful life and has acquired knowledge and wisdom that is to be passed down to future
PSY 246
Nadia Maura
generations. She is considering retirement and crossing off any goals left on her list. She has
made peace with the life she has lived, aware that she has lived a life of value and inner-growth,
despite the negative aspects, aligning her with ego integrity over despair, maintaining that same
disposition of optimism that I’ve been fortunate enough to experience in my lifetime.
1. In what ways has COVID-19 impacted your life? It has made me realize that I took too
many things for granted, that my daily routine was going to be the same until
retirement. I miss the gym and my gym buddies, I miss the interaction with my co-
workers, and I miss not seeing my grandkids as often as I used to. What I don't miss is
getting up early, getting dressed, and the commute to work. Working from home is
something that I never did, but I'm beginning to enjoy it because it adds hours to my
day and I avoid the office drama.
2. Where you content with the life you lived pre-quarantine? Pretty much, except that I
should've taken more time off from work to enjoy life.
3. Is there anything you wish you had done prior to quarantine? I could've traveled more
to visit my family members whom I miss.
4. Do you have any immediate plans when quarantine is over? Thinking about retirement
this year or next.
5. Are there any alternative lifestyles you wish you had, or plan to try out? I wish I had
the money to travel, not just domestically but internationally. Do volunteer work in
other countries.
6. Do you wish certain events in your life had not happened or do you look for purpose in
misfortune? Events will happen whether you want them or not. I live in the present but
always looking towards the future. The past is history and cannot be changed. Staying
positive is the key!
7. What positive life advice do you give to younger generations? Eat healthy, exercise
and read to keep the mind occupied and alert. Find something that you enjoy doing and
market it in order to make a living.
8. What would you suggest younger generations NOT do? Don't drink or do drugs, bad
habits are hard to break.
9. How do you feel about any mistakes you have made throughout your lifetime? I wish I
didn't make those mistakes, but that's how we learn.
10. If you could live your life over, is there anything you would change? I would be a
better parent, daughter, sibling, friend. I would definitely change my career choice and
chose one with more prestige and money-making capabilities, like [an] engineer,
lawyer or doctor.
11. What, in your opinion, makes life meaningful? Having family in my life, especially my
CHULIES [grandchildren]!