Purpose is a concept receiving increasing attention in the developmental sciences. Making sense of your place in the world and finding meaning--a process fundamental to purpose--support positive development in adolescence and beyond. Using traditional ethnographic strategies, this article examines the development of purpose among a small group of…

THE EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL ASPIRATIONS OF RURAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WERE STUDIED IN RELATION TO SOCIAL, CULTURAL, AND ECONOMIC FACTORS. QUESTIONNAIRES WERE ADMINISTERED TO AND COMPLETED BY 3,535 RURAL HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS. SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION WAS GATHERED BY PERSONAL INTERVIEWS WITH 992 STUDENTS. COUNSELORS, ADMINISTRATORS, AND…

Interviews with 33 teenagers from three small rural Midwest towns examined how they saw themselves, their families, friends, communities, and futures. Interview excerpts illustrate ambivalence about rural experiences, desire to move elsewhere, and Hispanic students' experiences with racism, but also convey positive attitudes about family, friends,…

Sixteen graduates of rural high schools were interviewed and asked to describe specific interactions with adults during their high school days that had significantly affected their thoughts about themselves or their future. Brief discussions examine the reasons that teachers have an impact on rural adolescents, what constitutes a "rural"…