The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how young adult participants, who completed the Inspire-High School Program offered through a parochial school, describe the influences that their internal and external environments had on their ability to complete the program in the southern United States. This study used Bronfenbrenner's ecological system theory for observation of the five layers: microsystem, mesosystem, exosystem, macrosystem, and chronosystem as the theoretical lens. Five research questions addressed how young adult participants used their world to help them complete the Inspire-High School Program as it relates to microsystems (RQ1), meosystems (RQ2), exosystems (RQ3), macrosystems (RQ4), and chronosystems (RQ5). Data collection for this qualitative descriptive design included a demographic questionnaire, the qualitative questionnaire that was created by the researcher, and semi-structured interviews. A purposive study sample with 41 young adults from the southern United States was collected in this study. A thematic analysis of the data revealed six key themes: life-skills, self-worth, self-confidence, appreciation for things, impactful people, model citizens, personal experience, and cultural responsiveness. Study revealed that snowball sampling was necessary to the program's participants included in the sample. Future research should be repeated with a larger sample and similar programs in American schools, for better understanding the ecological system theory, and positive youth development theory. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]