This study sought to understand the essence of calling development in emerging adults enrolled at university through an interpretative phenomenological analysis of nine semistructured interviews at a small mid-western public university. The conclusions of the study suggest the essence of calling development for this population is the process of becoming aware of an other-oriented teleology or life purpose that is in service to something beyond oneself. This awareness generates passion and motivation to pursue it. Calling develops within the context of, and in reaction to, the details of life as one makes meaning of it. This includes circumstances, the influence and value of family, evaluation of values and interests, nascent experiences that point toward the calling, and recognition of requisite skills for its fulfillment. Developing a calling results in passion for its fulfillment, a goal-oriented perspective towards this aim, and feeling satisfaction in particular domains and in life overall. These findings are articulated within social cognitive theory through a new model, the SCCT (i.e., social cognitive career theory) Model of Calling, Vocational Identity, and Satisfaction. This framework conceptualizes calling-fulfillment self-efficacy beliefs and calling-fulfillment outcome expectations as drivers of motivation and goal-action within the context of perceiving, pursuing, and living out a calling, and defines calling as an other-oriented teleological revelation. [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.]