Rick is a 55year old father and husband; he has a unique history, a distinctive past. On August 17th 1954, just 4 months after his 4th birthday my father was made a 'state ward' at Melbourne Orphanage. Developmental theorist, Erik Erikson places emphasis on ones cultural surroundings in creating total development. This theory became the basis of my interest project. My father was born into a life of disadvantage where the most important agent of socialisation 'family' was absent, leading to the institutionalisation of my father.
The specific societies, cultures, persons and particularly environments that surrounded my father since birth provided a unique, and for me intriguing socialisation process. This process can be seen to emphasise my cross cultural aspect and has allowed me to appreciate my own life more fully. It is via my PIP that I have developed an empathy and understanding of my father that previously did not exist. I have come to realise that the man 'I' look to for guidance and security was devoid of such care himself.
The process of 'digging up' the past has not only urged me to understand my father, but more so my grandmother. Particularly due to her very recent passing, I am more fully able to acknowledge the immense suffering she too endured and become more tolerant of her role in my father's unstable childhood. Although just months ago my grandmother wrote, "Sometimes the past is best forgotten", I have used it to develop social literacy and gain a greater understanding of my father today. I am now able to admire my father based on what I have learnt from my PIP and no longer criticise what use to be anomalous characteristics.
My PIP has been a cathartic journey for both myself and my father. During my journey I had no idea that just months later my beloved grandmother would pass and I would become a source of information for my father's brothers and sisters who were grappling for answers as to why they were separated during childhood.
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