The following interview was conducted with the interviewee Mike, 18 years old, who is currently in his final year in high school.
Interviewer: Hello Mike. How are you today? Perhaps we can begin by telling me about yourself.
Mike: Well, I’m 18 years old, and a senior at Cristo Rey high school in New York. Generally, I would say that I like music and sports.
Interviewer: Okay, tell me about your family.
Mike: I have two sisters and one brother who are in the 6th, 4th and 2nd grades respectively. My dad works at the Wildes " Weinberg law firm, and my mom works as a doctor at Calvary Hospital.
Interviewer: Great. Cultural identity factors a lot in the contemporary U.S adolescent mindset (Steinberg 24). In light of this, how would you describe yourself from a cultural perspective?
Mike: I would say that I am a huge sports fan, primarily because both my parents are really into them. My dad and I love football a lot, while my mom and sisters like baseball more. My little brother loves basketball more than all other sports. Our favourite family tradition is watching the super bowl.
Interviewer: How do you like spending your time? What interests you?
Mike: I like listening to music, and watching movies in my free time. I have only recently become interested in music production, but I haven’t yet been able to produce anything.
Interviewer: What is the most important thing to you, Mike?
Mike: The most important thing to me is definitely my family. My parents have struggled to raise my siblings and I, educate us and provide us with a loving environment in which to grow. In this regard, most if not everything I do is, in one way or another, purposed toward enhancing their lives.
Interviewer: What do you think has influenced you the most and why?
Mike: I would have to say, my parents; mainly because they have always been there for me when I needed guidance. I trust their advice immensely as I know that they always have my best interest at heart.
Interviewer: Okay Mike. Tell me about your friendships and why they matter to you.
Mike: I have two friends, Rachel and Kim. They are both my classmates, and we hang out a lot both in and out of school. They are both hilarious, persons, but I suppose I value them most for their brutally honest demeanours and their critical perspectives on the world.
Interviewer: How do you feel about your age? What are your thoughts on the psychological, physical and emotional changes you are undergoing right now?
Mike: Well, perhaps the most significant change has been how I view girls. Where as a child I did not quite notice the differences between boys and girls, now it seems that girls radiate a mesmerizing aura that often leaves me staring. I have also noticed that the more grown up I get, the more resolute in my independence which in turn, has resulted in some friction between my parents and I. At times, my emotions might undergo rapid mood swings, but I think this can be accrued to the occasional flaring up of my adolescent hormones.
Interviewer: Choosing a career can be a daunting task for young adults (Sarigianides 17). What about your school experience, how has it been and what do you plan on doing for a career?
Mike: My school experience has been okay, though I cannot say that I love math that much. I do aspire to study music and maybe someday go platinum, but I don’t imagine that will resonate well with my parents. Nonetheless, I’m determined to carve out a career in music.
Interviewer: Okay, last question Mike. How do you envision your future?
Mike: I see my future producing music, and touring the world with my family and friends.
Works Cited
Sarigianides, Sophia Tatiana. “Tensions in Teaching Adolescence: Analyzing Resistances in A Young Adult Literature Course.” Journal of Adolescent " Adult Literacy, vol. 56, no. 3, 2012, pp. 222–230. JSTOR, JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/23367740.
Steinberg, Laurence. Age of Opportunity. 1st ed., Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2014.
