Biography

My name is Brittney Decker and I am a sophomore attending Siena College. I am majoring in Social Work with a minor in Psychology. I hope to go on to pursue a job in a pediatric hospital working as a Medical Social Worker, or a Child Life Specialist. I chose this as my career path because, at the age of fourteen, I became chronically ill and ever since, the hospital has become a second home to me.

I actually consider some of my doctors, nurses, phlebotomists, and other people on my medical team to be part of a “secondary” family. According to Cohen, she defines families to be groups of related people, bound by connections that are biological, legal, or emotional (4). This definition can be conflicting to me, because I do not believe that I have to be related, especially biologically related to someone to consider them part of my family. Cohen also went on to explain, “that the label family signals an expectation of care or commitment” which is exactly what I believe my health care professional team fulfills for me, regarding my health (5).

Through my health journey, I have also grown a passion for volunteering with non-profit organizations. Some foundations/organizations I volunteer for currently are the local Make-A-Wish chapter, Nick’s Fight to be Healed Foundation, Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation, and Pab’s Packs – all which strive to provide comfort, support, and encouragement to pediatric patients and their families affected by a chronic illness.

Sadly, approximately 27% of U.S. children live with a chronic (lifelong) health condition that impacts their daily lives and normal activities. It has been proven that family caregivers provide the vast majority (80% ) of all long-term care for them as they grow up and continue into and through adulthood. I will admit my health has not just impacted my life, but also my family’s lives as a whole. However, through the midst of it, it has brought us closer together. My favorite family trip is actually my Make-A-Wish vacation, which is one of the reasons I love to give back to this foundation. Thankfully, in my case, my family always takes great care of me when I need them.

My immediate family consists of my mother, father, and older sister. We are an average sized family as The U.S Census Bureau has remained stable for many years with being two children per married couple/household. We are a very close-knit family, and currently, both my sister and I have chosen to commute to college so we all still live under the same roof. I consider education to be a privilege and am grateful that my sister and I are a part of the approximately 70% of students who enroll in college after high school. We are actually the third generation of our family to proceed with college and earn a degree.

We are also one of the 60.2 million households in the U.S. that own a dog. We have a five-year-old Shorkie named Roxy. I agree with Cohen’s statement that animals are an important part of family life and are often treated as family members. I think my parents and sister would both agree with the fact that she is a part of our personal family as we have created a relationship with her overtime (6). She is a great addition to our family and I cherish her presence each and every day.

The book discussed when describing the U.S. Census Bureau, how the man is typically always the “head” of the household still to this day (10). However, the percentage of women being the head of the household is increasing, especially as feminism rises. It is believed that about 40% of households are currently headed by women. In my case for my family, I think my family as a whole would all agree on the fact my mom is the head of ours. She is the powerhouse of our family. My mom will sometimes say, “What would you guys do without me?” and we all realize how much we depend on her when she is sick or away. This is ironic because my father’s salary is larger than her’s. Both of my parents have had a large impact on the person I am today.

Cohen, Philip. The Family: Diversity, Inequality, and Social Change. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2015.