title: Supporting a strong sense of purpose: lessons from a rural community.
abstract: Many rural youth leave their small home towns, at least temporarily, to pursue education and work opportunities after high school. A strong sense of purpose will likely help these young people navigate their transition to adulthood away from the comforts of home. A case study of high school students in a remote rural county in the Pacific Northwest using survey and ethnographic data showed that traditional out-of-school activities (for example, sports, theater, band, Future Farmers of America) and community-based activities (for example, community symphony, community classes, community events), along with work experiences, were all important for developing a strong sense of purpose. The case study points to the important role small rural schools can play in supporting youth and connecting them to activities that foster a strong sense of purpose. In addition, this article discusses the importance of paying attention to the development of a sense of purpose alongside traditional measures of academic achievement and social competence.
authors.affiliation: Gateway to College National Network.
authors.forename: Devora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Shamah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D041923:Adolescent Development; D000884:Anthropology, Cultural; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D007406:Interview, Psychological; D008297:Male; D008960:Models, Psychological; D009042:Motivation; D009922:Oregon; D011582:Psychological Theory; D011594:Psychometrics; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012424:Rural Population / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012933:Social Identification; D012944:Social Support; D013177:Sports / Q000523:psychology; D013223:Statistics as Topic