Publication Authors:
Kendall Cotton Bronk
Some young people demonstrate intense commitments to purposeful aims. Six of these young purpose exemplars were followed over a two year time period to determine how the role of purpose in their lives changed or stayed the same over time. Results revealed two trajectories. While all of the young people were committed to the same aims over the course of the two years, one cluster of youth pursued their aims using the same means as they had two years prior while another cluster had identified new means. These findings suggest that purpose is likely to endure over time, but that the way in which young people act on those purposes may change.