PEPSI Case Study 1

PEPSI Case Study

Angela Kolone

CSN EDU 220

Abstract

The following paper will describe a male teenager in five areas of development that teenagers are

or on the average be experiencing. The paper will provide both observation and comparisons

based on research among the average and his two other friends.
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Gibbson Kolone is the baby of our family, he is also the tallest. He is much like his older

siblings, a homebody. He is quiet and kind and shares with those that have less. He also has a

sarcastic personality to those he feels comfortable with. We will be comparing him to the

average American teenager as well as a couple of his friends in some of the five aspects of

Physical, Emotional, Philosophical, Social and Intellectual.

Physically ​Gibbson is 5’11 and weighs about 240, he is built like his football position,

Linebacker. ​Physically he seems to be developing faster than the average. Denise Witmer (2017)

“The average ​height​ of a 15-year-old American boy is 5 feet 7 inches with a potential height of 5

feet 9-1/2 at age 20. The average weight for the same boy is about 125 pounds.” His two friends

are similar in height and one of the boys is about 50 lbs lighter than the other two.

According to the American Medical Association (2001) “around ages 15 or 16, boys'

voices will lower and facial hair will appear. Boys may continue to gain height and muscle.”

This is true with Gibbson. Gibbson, Apa, and Uso are alike if comparing darkened mustaches

and a deeper voice. Only Gibbson seems to have an acne issue (Micki Caskey, Vincent A.

Anfara, Jr. 2014). ​Once football season ended Gibbson has begun a routine of getting a snack

then heads up to his room to play video games or watch youtube. Only coming down for dinner.

Normally by Thursday or Friday, he takes a short nap. In the evening for probably less than an

hour he plays video games live with his older sister from her bedroom. When playing video

games online it will become very serious and intense. There are some words of encouragement

but mostly negative feedback when a player needs help or is causing the rest of the team a loss.
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When annoyed by each other's skills they throw empty water bottles are each-others bedroom

door. When he is around his sister his personality seems to really come alive. They have a very

close bond.

Gibbson’s emotional development areas are confusing or extremely diverse. Between his

White, Filipino and his overpowering Samoan culture, predicting him can be questionable. I

believe his smart mouth and joking ways is used in a defensive mechanism, in which he obtained

from his father side. His dad rarely gives compliments, mostly criticism. Gibbson will listen but

over time will reciprocate the negativity if the situation relates to the both of them. For example,

when his father tries to lecture him about his studies, Gibbson immediately gets defensive

because his grades exceed his father's. On the other hand, Gibbson gets personal satisfaction and

self-esteem by his good grades thus giving himself a sense of pride. (Denise Witmer (2017)

During a car ride with his friend Apa, they were trying to top each-others skills on the

football field but they couldn’t argue when it came to grades because Apa struggles in that

department. I also notice a slight change in his demeanor when he is around his friend. He seems

to be either testing my patience, trying a different personality or possibly seeking peer

acceptance of how he acts in front of his parents. Maybe he wants Apa to view him differently, I

fear he struggles with self-confidence around a certain type of friends Denise Witmer (2017).

I’m thinking he is just showing off because these boys have very little in common except

Football American Medical Association (2001).

When told doing a good job during a football game or practice from other players or by

his dad he seems to take it straight to the heart without getting a big ego. But he won’t show it.

He is very modest. He is sensitive during serious conversations when someone makes negative
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comments or tries to correct his actions. He doesn’t make poor choices but really hates being

criticized. According to the Association for Middle-Level Education​ ​article by ​Micki Caskey,

Vincent A. Anfara, Jr. ​(2014) ​“Y

​ oung adolescents often experiment with new behaviors as they

seek social position and personal identity.” I believe this to be true with Gibbson. He believes he

is always making good decisions and for someone to question or correct it, frustrates him

because he knows his friends are doing the exact opposite.

Gibbson has maintained above a 3.0 GPA all school year. He rarely has homework.

During this six week observation, he was only documented doing homework 4 times. When

working on his school work, he sits at the kitchen table, has his phone playing a random youtube

video. When asked why he hardly has homework, his reply is he does it during class when there

is nothing to do. His self-motivation and discipline allows him to be more independent and

responsible. He is fully aware if grades drop, we get involved in which he tries to avoid the

American Medical Association (2001)​. Now that football conditioning has started up, Gibbson

has less time to himself. He attempts to use homework as an excuse to avoid practice and his

father feels football is a priority. I believe the two can be accomplished with a balanced effort.

He does what is told but tries to turn the conversation into a debate so he can get his way. We

allowed him to miss practice so he could work on his paper. But the paper took less than 45

minutes and the rest of the time he played video games ​Micki Caskey, Vincent A. Anfara, Jr.

(2014).

Adolescents tend to emulate their peers or persons who are not their parents ​Micki

Caskey, Vincent A. Anfara, Jr. (2014)​. Past experience has played a major role in his decisions.

His uncle who is around the same age as his older brother are both favorable amongst their peers
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in fashion and personalities. Neither of them smoke, drink, or disrespect their elders, therefore

displaying being cool without peer pressure for poor choices.

Apa is the same age and his interests is being number one on the field, personal

appearance and of course girls. He comes over once a week and they immediately want to go

head up against each other to see who is the strongest. Most of the time Gibbson gets the upper

hand which gives himself a lot of self-assurance because of how differently the two are viewed at

school. Now that he is in high school I ask him why he doesn’t hang out with his friends from

school. He thinks logically about consequences. According to Gibbson they’re all bad kids and

we don’t like the same things”

His other friend Uso who also played football last year has a quieter personality, family

oriented, enjoys playing the same video games and watches a lot of youtube videos as well.

These two are less competitive and more compatible. When reviewing the article by the

American Medical Association Gibbson does not meet this aspect of teen development or Denise

Witmer. Gibbson feels comfortable telling us almost everything good or bad that happens in

school and relationships have not really become a major part of his life.

During early adolescence, youth are more interested in real life experiences and authentic

learning opportunities; they are less interested in traditional academic subjects (Kellough &

Kellough, 2008)​ Micki Caskey, Vincent A. Anfara, Jr. (2014)​. Although teenagers entertainment,

in my opinion, lacks interaction. He does seem to have an interest in real life experiences even if

the information is coming from youtube. I’ve heard and seen him watching videos on old

military battles, wars, current events, Beyond Scared Straight as well as documentaries.
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According to the ​American Medical Association (2001)​ Teens frequently question and

challenge school and parental rules, this doesn't seem to apply here. He is very respectful to

adults. Although I can not confirm the same for his teachers. Teachers play an effective role and

have a completely different expectations than a family member. Therefore, I am unable to

confirm his interaction with his teachers. Denise Witmer (2017)

In comparison amongst all three teenagers, they are all similar levels of development, in

regards to physical, although one of them are shorter than others, this doesn’t necessarily mean

they’re done growing. There are definitely different social aspects for all three. Apa is very

outgoing and he is very popular but he is also overly confident or at least appears to be, which

can sometimes turn into cockiness which many people will reject. Uso is more family oriented

and takes on a lot of responsibility taking care of his younger siblings. Uso having so much

responsibility could hinder his future social interaction but also make him anrganized and

responsible adult. Gibbson is pretty much spoiled which I believe inhibits him to be more

independent which also could slow the process of him being on his own.
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References

Micki Caskey, Vincent A. Anfara, Jr. October 2014 Developmental Characteristics of Young

Adolescents

https://www.amle.org/BrowsebyTopic/WhatsNew/WNDet/TabId/270/ArtMID/888/ArticleID/45

5/Developmental-Characteristics-of-Young-Adolescents.aspx

Denise Witmer December 11, 2017

https://www.verywellfamily.com/social-and-emotional-development-your-15-year-old-teen-2609

027

American Medical Association 2001

http://www.pamf.org/parenting-teens/health/growth-development/growth.html

https://www.healthtap.com/topics/average-height-and-weight-for-15-year-old-boy
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