youthspeakoutint.org
Life’s Purpose™
Purpose in life means pursuing far-reaching goals that are both personally meaningful and beneficial to others.1 Youth with a sense of purpose in life perform better in school, enjoy better health, and experience higher self-esteem. In contrast, those who lack a sense of purpose are more likely to endure depression, anxiety, and substance abuse.2 These consequences make purpose especially critical for the well-being and success of at-risk youth.
About the Program
Life’s Purpose™ is a mentoring program that inspires youth to discover and pursue personal goals that give their life meaning and benefit their communities. As a result of the program, youth experience a renewed belief in their power to make decisions and choose a positive future. They identify far-reaching goals and strengthen the social and emotional skills (such as empathy and initiative) that make those goals feasible.
Each component of the Life’s Purpose program is grounded in research on the development of purpose in adolescence. Mentoring relationships that provide guided reflections and practical support are effective ways to help youth identify these far-reaching goals.3
How It Works
Through interpretation of Hip Hop music lyrics, journal writing, and group discussions, program mentors prompt youth to reflect on their purpose and identify goals that will not only improve their lives but benefit their communities as well.
After reflecting on what matters to them, youth are prompted to write a purpose statement. Later, they write a mission statement which explains how they will put their purpose into action, then they create goals to lay out the steps for fulfilling their mission and purpose. Finally, they create a vision board, a collage of images and inspiring text that help youth strengthen their determination to pursue their purpose.
Youth Have a Voice
Youth share their insights and goals during group discussions where they stand in front of their peers and speak into a microphone, documenting their personal experiences using audio/video technology. Through this experience, youth improve their communication skills and develop greater self-awareness. Their stories, goals, mission and purpose statements are gathered to produce videos that chronicle their growth.
Video Gallery
The following video showcases the purpose, mission statements and goals of youth in the Life’s Purpose program at the Department of Juvenile Justice, Palm Beach County Detention Center.
Through Life’s Purpose, youth build deeper connections with the community. The program culminates in a community forum in which youth share their purpose with family, friends, mentors, and professionals.
Their purpose statements, vision boards, and videos are posted here in the YSO INT website (see Youth Purpose Pages and Video Gallery below), allowing them to reflect on their progress weeks or months after the program ends. In addition to finding a sense of purpose, youth completing the Life’s Purpose program have experienced a sense of belonging, empowerment, and hope in their future.
Positive Outcomes
Program outcomes include essential life skills. For example, youth learn to:
- Create short-term goals to achieve long-term aims
- Document their personal growth
- Examine their motivations, opinions, and source of identity
- Recognize those issues that matter most to them in life
- Listen with empathy
- Communicate in a group setting
- Present to an audience
Inspiring Youth in the Department of Juvenile Justice
Youth Speak Out International expanded its Life’s Purpose program into The Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ), Palm Beach County Detention Center. This 16-hour/session life enrichment experience was designed to motivate and inspire 15-25 youth by activating their personal voice. The programs culturally-relevant and engaging approach utilized Rap music as a conduit to meet the young people where they are. Through listening and deciphering the music lyrics, participating youth improved their critical thinking, self-reflection, problem-solving and decision-making skills. Youth exited the program with a defined purpose, mission statement and established goals for their lives.
Youth Purpose Pages
Youth in the Life’s Purpose program have shared deeply inspiring visions for their future. Their purpose statements, presented in the pages below, are far-reaching yet grounded. Their mission statements chart their path forward, and their goals reveal some of the steps they will take to turn their vision into a reality.
Read their purpose, mission, and life goal statements in the following pages and share encouragement or reflections in the comment section. Each page uses the “aka” name (or pseudonym) chosen by the youth during the program.
If you are a graduate of Life’s Purpose, please leave a reply in the comment section on your page to let us know how your purpose, mission, and life goals influence your life today.
Click on the pages below to read and comment:
Video Gallery
Life’s Story
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Mission in Life
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3 Year Goals
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Mission / Purpose
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Testimonials
“I’ve worked at DJJ for more than 15 years and Life’s Purpose™ Youth Empowerment Program is one of the most effective life skills programs I have encountered.”
Captain Welton Sanders, Assistant Detention Center Superintendent, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Palm Beach Regional Juvenile Detention Center
“Life’s Purpose™ Youth Empowerment Program has changed the mind set of today’s generation.”
Major Mamine Saintil, Detention Center Superintendent II, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Palm Beach Regional Juvenile Detention Center
“Thank you for helping my son make a change in his life. He now talks about having goals and wanting to finish High School.”
Parent of Youth, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Palm Beach Regional Juvenile Detention Center
“I created my purpose, mission and life goals. I now have to live by these codes. I will be successful in life.”
Life’s Purpose™ Student, 17 years old, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Palm Beach Regional Juvenile Detention Center
“Our students finally have a program that gives them a way to create purpose and guidance in their lives.”
Detention Center Officer, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Palm Beach Regional Juvenile Detention Center
“My passionate belief in the potential of our youth and the power of the youth voice was reaffirmed during the implementation of Life’s Purpose™ Youth Empowerment Program at the Palm Beach Regional Juvenile Detention Center.”
Arlene L. Connelly, President/CEO ISEE Group, Board Chairman, Youth Speak Out International
“During family visitation, youth are communicating with their parents how Life’s Purpose™ Youth Empowerment Program is inspiring them to make positive changes in their lives.”
Captain Welton Sanders, Assistant Detention Center Superintendent, Florida Department of Juvenile Justice Palm Beach Regional Juvenile Detention Center
“Life’s Purpose” taught me I can be anything in life I want to be. I now set goals and know how to achieve them.”
Life’s Purpose™ Student (11 years old), Lantana, Florida, USA
“I learned to live a ‘good life’ I have to live up to my own expectations.”
Life’s Purpose™ Student (16 years old), Lantana, Florida, USA
“Your program has changed the lives of my students. They loved working with the video cameras and expressing themselves on film. We would love you to work with our children again. Your program changes lives.”
Palm Beach County School Teacher, West Palm Beach, Fl. USA
“Understanding my mission and purpose in life has helped me understand who I’m and where I’m going in life. Thank you for not giving up on me.”
Life’s Purpose™ Student (16 Years Old), Riviera Beach, FL, USA
“The (I’m statement) has changed the way I look at myself. I’m going to succeed. Youth Speak Out International is the best. Thank you for caring.”
Life’s Purpose™ Student (19 Years Old), SouthSide, Jamaica
“Everyday I wake up and look at the life collage I made in your program it helps me to remember what I need to change in my life.”
Life’s Purpose™ Student (11 Years Old), West Palm Beach, FL, USA
“It’s amazing how easy its to figure out your mission and purpose in life. I went home and asked my mom and sister to figure it out. Now our entire family is working together. This makes me happy.”
Life’s Purpose™ Student (16 Years Old), West Palm Beach, FL, US
References
1 Damon, W., Menon, J., & Bronk, K. C. (2003). The development of purpose during adolescence. Applied Developmental Science, 7, 119-128.
2 Harlow, L. L. , Newcomb, M. D., & Bentler, P. M. (1986). Depression, self-derogation, substance use, and suicidal ideation: Lack of purpose in life as a mediational factor. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 42, 5-21.
3 Bronk, K. C. (2012). A grounded theory of youth purpose. Journal of Adolescent Research, 27, 78-109.
