ERIC Number: EJ1470543
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025
Pages: 35
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0162-5748
EISSN: EISSN-1090-7009
Available Date: 0000-00-00
Hoped-For Selves: Using Possible Selves to Explore the Career and College-Going Aspirations for Gang-Involved Latino Boys
Adrián H. Huerta
Review of Higher Education, v48 n3 p477-511 2025
Gang-involved children dream of becoming respected members of society through professional careers, educational degrees or credentials, and socioeconomic mobility. This qualitative study used hoped-for selves as the theoretical grounding for exploring the career and college-going aspirations of 28 middle- and high-school gang-involved Latino boys attending three urban alternative schools. Findings centered on the career and college-going aspirations of the two- and four-year institution educational credentials needed for social mobility. This article aims to help K-12 and higher education faculty, practitioners, researchers, and administrators considering working with gang-involved youth to understand better how to support this marginalized group's educational needs and improve pathways into careers and postsecondary education systems.
Descriptors: Juvenile Gangs, Hispanic Americans, Males, Occupational Aspiration, Academic Aspiration, Middle School Students, High School Students, Nontraditional Education, Social Mobility, Student Attitudes
Johns Hopkins University Press. 2715 North Charles Street, Baltimore, MD 21218. Tel: 800-548-1784; Tel: 410-516-6987; Fax: 410-516-6968; e-mail: jlorder@jhupress.jhu.edu; Web site: https://www.press.jhu.edu/journals/list
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: Junior High Schools; Middle Schools; Secondary Education; High Schools
Audience: Practitioners; Researchers
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A