Purpose

''What is my purpose in life?'' ''How can I get the most out of my student life without losing sight of my values and ambitions?'' ''What direction do I want to take?'' ''What do I really care about?''

In your student life, you will often run into issues surrounding meaning. It is important for everyone to have a purpose in life. Some studies even suggest that students who experience higher levels of meaning are more satisfied with their lives and less likely to experience mental health problems1 2.

Below are several resources to help you get started with meaning for yourself, describe goals and figure out what is important to you in your life.

Books

Challenges

Documentaries

Podcasts

Self tests

Patton, Lori D., Kristen A. Renn, Florence M. Guido, and Stephen John Quaye. Student development in college: Theory, research, and practice. John Wiley & Sons, 2016.

2 Moran, Christy D. "Purpose in life, student development, and well-being: Recommendations for student affairs practitioners." NASPA journal 38, no. 3 (2001): 269-279.