LIFE PURPOSE, MEANING AND FUTURE: AN ANALYSIS OF GOALS AND WELL-BEING IN HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

Reflecting on the future is a relevant process for human development, especially during adolescence—a phase marked by intense transformations and decisions that impact life trajectories. This empirical study, descriptive, comparative, and correlational in nature, adopts a theoretical-deductive method with quantitative procedures for both data collection—through a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Goals and Feelings Toward the Future Scale, and the Development and Well-Being Scale—and data analysis, using descriptive statistics, t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson’s correlation. The study aimed to investigate perceptions, goals, and feelings toward the future, as well as dimensions of development and well-being among 214 high school students from public schools in the state of Goiás, Brazil, considering their sociodemographic characteristics. Results showed that "being a good person" and "having a job" are central aspirations, reflecting ethical values and professional ambitions. In contrast, political roles and community engagement were not prioritized. A positive outlook on the future was associated with higher levels of well-being, while negative feelings did not directly impact overall well-being. Significant differences emerged by gender (with girls reporting more negative feelings) and academic level (third-year students reported greater well-being). It is concluded that adolescents' well-being is linked to positive perceptions about the future and academic progress, which reinforces the importance of educational practices that promote self-esteem, purpose, and emotional support throughout the school journey.