Helping Students Find Their Purpose

At STC, one of our favorite lessons to lead in classrooms asks students to find an intersection between what they love, what they’re good at, what can financially support them, and what the world or their community needs.

For many young people, this presents an opportunity to dig into what gives them purpose or drives their interests, even before they dive into career paths and career skills. It also gives them the chance to reflect on their strengths: the feedback they get from colleagues, what family and friends say about them, and what makes them happy and proud of themselves. 

In a 2024 report from Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation, as reported by The 74 Million, that surveyed over 1,000 Gen Z students found that the most influential driver of students’ happiness is their “sense of purpose” at work and school. The report outlines that under half of Gen Zers don’t feel what they do is interesting or motivating, leading to questions on how to rethink strategies to engage young people.

We know a sense of purpose is important to career readiness, too. Our curriculum is designed to help young people identify jobs that tie into their interests, talents, and needs. In this great example, a student at Passport Academy Charter in Pittsburgh landed not only on potential career paths, but also identified a sense of purpose: “my purpose in life is to help people.”