Hope in the Lives of Low-Income Students of Color: A Qualitative Study of Experiences in a Work-Based Learning Program

Abstract

This study explored the experiences of low-income students of color who participated in a work-based learning (WBL) program while attending a Catholic high school. Historically, research on student outcomes in WBL programs has been mixed, and few studies have provided insights into how low-income youth of color can benefit. This study utilized a phenomenological methodology to capture hope among these youth and to delineate these students’ lived experiences within their relational, organizational, and sociocultural contexts. The results showed participants’ goal setting and motivation were fostered by a sense of connection to others at school and a collective belief that success was possible for all students despite whatever challenges they faced. The participants also discussed hopes for the future within the context of workplace support, religious faith, and past hopelessness. The results provide avenues to design WBL programs that consider students’ supports and barriers and further contextualize hope theory.

Keywords

work-based learning adolescent career development students of color hope low-income students

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Blustein

D. L.

Olle

Connors-Kellgren

Diamonti

A. J.

(2016). Decent work: A psychological perspective. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 407. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00407

Bradby

Dykman

(2003). Effects of “high schools that work” practices on student achievement [Research brief] (ERIC Document Reproduction Service No. ED479784). Retrieved from https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED479784

Brown

S. D.

Lamp

Telander

Hacker

(2013). Career development as prevention: Toward a social cognitive model of vocational hope. In Vera

E. M.

(Ed.), The Oxford handbook of prevention in counseling psychology (pp. 374–392). Oxford University Press.

Constantine

M. G.

Sue

D. W.

(2006). Factors contributing to optimal human functioning in people of color in the United States. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 34, 228–244.

Creswell

J. W.

(2012). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). Sage Publications.

Day

Hanson

Maltby

Proctor

Wood

(2010). Hope uniquely predicts objective academic achievement above intelligence, personality, and previous academic achievement. Journal of Research in Personality, 44, 550–553. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrp.2010.05.00

Deil-Amen

Tevis

T. L.

(2010). Circumscribed agency: The relevance of standardized college entrance exams for low SES high school students. Review of Higher Education, 33(2), 141–175.

Gilman

Dooley

Florell

(2006). Relative levels of hope and their relationship with academic and psychological indicators among adolescents. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 25(2), 166–178. https://doi.org/10.1521/jscp.2006.25.2.166

Isaacs

S. A.

Savahl

(2014). A qualitative inquiry investigating adolescents’ sense of hope within a context of violence in a disadvantaged community in Cape Town. Journal of Youth Studies, 17(2), 269–278. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676261.2013.815703

10.

Kenny

M. E.

(2013). The promise of work as a component of educational reform. In Blustein

D. B.

(Ed.), The Oxford handbook of the psychology of working: An inclusive psychology for the 21st century (pp. 273–291). Oxford University Press.

11.

Kenny

M. E.

Blustein

D. L.

Liang

Klein

Etchie

(2019). Applying the psychology of working theory for transformative career education. Journal of Career Development, 46(6), 623–636. https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845319827655

12.

Kenny

M. E.

Catraio

Bempechat

Minor

Olle

Blustein

D. L.

Seltzer

(2016). Preparation for meaningful work and life: Urban high school youth’s reflections on work-based learning 1 year post-graduation. Frontiers in Psychology, 7, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00286

13.

Kenny

M. E.

Gualdron

Scanlon

Sparks

Blustein

Jernigan

(2007). Urban adolescents’ construction of supports and barriers to their educational and career attainment. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 54, 336–343.

14.

Kenny

M. E.

Walsh-Blair

L. Y.

Blustein

D. L.

Bempechat

Seltzer

(2010). Achievement motivation among urban adolescents: Work hope, autonomy support, and achievement-related beliefs. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 77, 205–212. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvb.2010.02.005

15.

Lapan

R. T.

Turner

Pierce

M. E.

(2012). College and career readiness: Policy and research to support effective counseling in schools. In Fouad

N. A.

Carter

J. A.

Subich

L. M.

(Eds.), APA handbook of counseling psychology, vol. 2: Practice, interventions, and applications (pp. 57–73). American Psychological Association.

16.

Moustakas

(1994). Phenomenological research methods. Sage.

17.

Murnane

R. J.

(2013). US high school graduation rates: Patterns and explanations. Journal of Economic Literature, 51(2), 370–422.

18.

Nalkur

P. G.

(2009). Adolescent hopefulness in Tanzania street youth, former street youth and social youth. Journal of Adolescent Research, 24(6), 668–690. https://doi.org/10.1177/0743558409350501

19.

National Center for Education Statistics. (2019). The condition of education. U.S. Department of Education. https://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2019144

20.

Pedrotti

J. T.

Edwards

L. M.

Lopz

S. J.

(2008). Promoting hope: Suggestions for school counselors. Professional School Counseling, 12, 100–107. http://doi.10.5330/PSC.n.2010-12.100

21.

Riele

(2010). Philosophy of hope: Concepts and applications for working with marginalized youth. Journal of Youth Studies, 13, 35–46. https://doi.org/10.1080/13676260903173496

22.

Snyder

C. R.

Harris

Anderson

J. R.

Holleran

S. A.

Irving

L. M.

Sigmon

S. T.

Harney

(1991). The will and the ways: Development and validation of an individual differences measure of hope. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 60(4), 570–585. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-3514.60.4.570

23.

Snyder

C. R.

Shorey

H. S.

Rand

K. L.

Buskist

(2006). Using hope theory to teach and mentor academically at-risk students. In Buskist

Davis

S. F.

(Eds.), The handbook of the teaching of psychology (pp. 170–174). Blackwell.

24.

Taylor

C. E.

Hutchinson

N. L.

Ingersoll

Dalton

C. J.

Dods

Godden

Chin

de Lugt

(2015). At-risk youth find work hope in work-based education. Exceptionality Education International, 25(1), 158–174.

25.

Thompson

M. N.

Nitzarim

R. S.

Her

Sampe

Diestelmann

(2017). Financial stress and work hope beliefs among adolescents. Journal of Career Assessment, 25(2), 254–267. https://doi.org/10.1177/1069072715621517

26.

Tong

E. M. W.

Fredrickson

B. L.

Weining

X. L.

(2010). Re-examining hope: The roles of agency thinking and pathways thinking. Cognition & Emotion, 24, 207–215. https://doi.org/10.1080/02699930903138865

27.

Visher

M. G.

Bhandari

Medrich

(2004). “High school career exploration programs: Do they work?” Phi Delta Kappan, 86(2), 135–138.