Youth and transition to High School: challenges and projects for the future

Abstract

In order to add to the debate on the arrival of teenagers at high school, this research analyzes a group of students from a district initiating their studies at the seat of the municipality upon finishing local Middle School. To comprehend how they perceived their transition process to high school, field research took as reference some reflexive interviews with eight teenagers and the resulting material was analyzed individually. Findings show that transitioning to high school, especially for teenagers from the rural areas, allows for the enlargement of their sociability networks, leading them to face new complex challenges. The authors hope that the results of this research contribute to the discussions on the significance of high school for low-income teenagers, particularly regarding their plans for their futures.