Fatoumata appeared to be in the middle adulthood stage, even though she's just a teenager. She exhibited the strongest show of maturity out of the three students. This is not suggesting that her responsibilities were greater than the others. She just seemed to have this mature resolve about her situation that she would break out of it and she wouldn't have it any other way. Fatoumata was extremely determined and focused. Although she didn't have the support from her parents, she had much support from her classmates as well as Stephenson. She was mature enough to appreciate all the things that this country had to offer and didn't take them for granted, but seemed to know that she needed to take advantage of every opportunity that came her way in order to break free from her circumstances.

Erica appeared to be in the adolescent stage. She may have had to carry the heaviest burden out of all three teenagers and she did it well. Yet, on the inside there was a certain desperation. It was almost as if she felt she had to rid herself of her responsibilities by getting a scholarship and that if she didn't win money for school her life was over. She didn't appear to have a backup plan in case the culinary thing fell through. She appeared more desperate than determined. In this stage, we discover who we are apart from our families and that is what she was seeking to do.

Ms. Stephenson was clearly in the late adulthood...

She had a toughness about her that was mixed with grace and extreme wisdom that she imparted on her students. She served as a surrogate mother for many of the students and was genuinely involved in their overall welfare. If I had a certain amount of money to spend on interventions to help any one of the three students, I would spend it on Erica and feel that Ms. Stephenson would support this choice.
Erica is chosen because of her desperation and not determination. Tyree really did not seek out a culinary scholarship. Fatoumata was so determined that there was no doubt she would get a scholarship, but Erica seemed to be screaming inwardly for someone to rescue her from her life. Erica needs some type of assertiveness intervention. Her parents did not force the care of her sister upon her. It just fell in her lap and she did nothing to prevent it. She should have set some boundaries, but her sense of obligation and probably guilt kept her from doing so. Classes and instruction in assertiveness will not only help Erica as a teenager, but it will also help her to succeed as an adult because she will become more sure of herself and her goals in life. As an assertive young lady, she will become more determined to accomplish her goals and not let anyone or anything stand in the way of this. She will then see that it is not necessary to live in another state in order to be who she wants to be and live the life she wants to live.