Eric Martin, an assistant professor of kinesiology and co-director of the Center for Physical Activity and Sport, recently published an article in the International Journal of Adolescence and Youth. The article, “Youth definitions of success, obstacles to success, and how significant others can help: Providing youth a voice in their own development,” focused on understanding how youth from Trinidad and Tobago in three unique contexts (swim club, church group and reform home) conceptualized success.
Results indicated that youth had a number of definitions of success but several of these paralleled the concepts of thriving and resilience. Youth also noted a large number of obstacles to success that often were specific to each individual context. Finally, youth identified support from significant others (both formal and informal manners) as critical to achieving success, illustrating the importance of mentoring relationships in their own lives.