1. Selena has a strong ethnic identity. Describe Selena’s Latino ethnic identity, explaining several components of her rich cultural heritage and their influence. What aspects of ethnic identity development models can inform her development in college? In what ways can the models and theories of religious and spiritual development be used to frame Selena’s concern about her religion and separation from the Catholic church?
2. In what ways can the models and theories of religious and spiritual development be used to frame Selena’s concern about her religion and separation from the Catholic church?
3. Describe Selena’s psychosocial development (particularly her connection to her family) and her crisis and commitment journey through college. How do you think Selena would describe her sexual and religious identity journeys in terms of crisis and commitment to an identity?
Selena’s multiple identities have a major impact on her relationships with her family and college experiences. Identify three theories that would be most informative in helping Selena make sense of her developmental process.
4. Selena began at a community college prior to transferring to a four-year institution. What theories would you use to guide the creation of a program to assist students in transition from two-year to four-year colleges? What developmental aspects would you include to ensure that the transition process is developmental and informative for students?
5. Selena’s lesbian identity seemed to conflict with her family’s beliefs and her religious beliefs. However, she made a thoughtful decision no longer to hide her identity and to embrace all its aspects. Use a cognitive-structural or integrative theory to explain what Selena’s developmental trajectory may have been to prompt her identity commitment.
6. What are the diverse identities represented in Selena’s portrait? Create a draft of a program to support student’s diverse and intersecting identities. Describe a relevant theory that applies to each program component.
7. Briefly describe what steps might have occurred along Selena’s pathway as a first-generation college student to guarantee her success academically and developmentally in college.
8. What examples of cognitive dissonance may have occurred for Selena while she attended college? What advice and support would you have offered her as she grappled with these challenging moments in college?
