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Question #2 Describe how your own personal value was defined and or shaped while growing up.

Positive Aspects for defining value:

• Positive - 8 - Participants
• Negative - 3 - Participants
• Both - 5 – Participants

P3 Definitely by family. Youth organizations, working for social organizations, Religion, friends, personal experiences.

P6 My personal value was instilled on me growing up. This was done by attending a Lutheran school, as well as going to church, and being in youth "church" activities. I also feel by seeing how it has gotten me through some rough times in my life you see the value in it.

P7 My personal value system was shaped by my parents, peers, and friends while growing up.

P8 Very strict Mexican family, the man works, the wife raises the children. Even after my father became disabled my mother did not work and we survived on my father's disability payments. We didn't have much but we were "happy". We did a lot of family inexpensive/free activities, riding bikes, swimming at the local park, and hiking. Money was definitely not everything.

P9 My values were defined initially from my parents. I feel they shaped my value system based on their value system. I also feel that additional value structure was added by other adults in my life. Throughout my childhood and teen years I met other adults (friends/teachers) who may have took interest in me as a child/teen and instilled their values/beliefs in me.

P13 I think that my personal value system was defined quite young. I had a child at 16 and I think that played an intricate part in defining me and my value system. I feel that being responsible for a child, needed me to think about what I wanted for myself and my child and how I wanted him to develop. I think I was defined as I raised him.

P15 My personal value system was shaped by my parents and Catholic School. My father being a Police Officer instilled being honest and law abiding of course. I attended Catholic School which taught discipline, structure, respect and religion.

P16 My personal value has been shaped by what I learned and observed from my family and friends. My parents always instilled the importance of family, helping others, being honest, loyal and trustworthy. Growing up, I always saw how hard my parents worked having multiple jobs to support a family of six. Often, the kids would have to hurry home so we could help my parents with a paper route! My parents would always tell me that education wasn't an option for them, which taught me the value of education, strong work ethic and importance of job security. I learned to appreciate and continue all of those values in my life.

Negative/Non Defined Value system growing up:
P5 My own value was defined by my life experiences. Was not taught.

P11 I don't believe that my personal value was define or shaped while growing up. Realizing my own value came in my mid twenties when I finally moved on my own and became independent and dependent on me.

P14 During the 60's women were raised to be housewives and mothers. Being a black woman in the 60's was an even greater challenge. Girls in my culture were raised to be seen and not heard. We were trained to cook and clean. We were not encouraged to go to college or to pursue a career. We could not even look a male in the eye. Women were not seen as equal to men. Men ruled and dominated the home. My brothers were taught to do the same. A working woman was looked down on. If a woman were to wear pants she was considered masculine. Wow has things changed!

Both Positive & Negative/Non Defined Value system growing up:
P1 My values were defined growing up in a very dysfunctional family. I was told as a child that I would never amount to anything. I made up my mind at a very early age I would prove those statements wrong.

P2 Whatever I didn't get from home I probably got from school. I was an eager student and a top student and I always received great encouragement from my teachers for my academic abilities and artistic talents. I sought approval from my instructors and trusted them to shape my mind and values. Both my parents are and have always been very decent, honest and good people but I wasn't relying on them to teach me right from wrong in any overt fashion.

P4 As a child I cannot remember there being a strong family structure where
good values were set, although I can recall the attempt coming from my mother she did try to set some values in me the best way she knew how. I would go to church on Sunday and by doing so I would learn to respect others and most important respect people whom were older than me. The rule was you were to be seeing not heard. This had a great impact on me because as an adult I know the importance of respect.

P10 While growing up my father was in the US Navy away from home, I only saw him when he was out on leave, but when he came home I was very happy, he gave me lots of attention and love. My mother was a housewife who provided for her four children one son three daughters. My mother would take us to church every Sunday sometimes during the week also she read the bible to us. She would explain to us how to be a good person, and to have respect for adults and others. That was her discipline to us, but she didn’t know how to give us her love, by kisses or hugging us. I guess that was her way of caring. By the time I was in my teens she remarried and her values weren’t the same.

P12 I don't believe that my personal value was defined or shaped while growing up. Realizing my own value came in my mid twenties when I finally moved out on my own and became independent and dependent on me.