Meaning and Purpose

Kristijan Musek Lešnik
Nov 16, 2025
2 min read

Meaning and purpose give direction to our days and strength to our hearts. When children and youth find meaning in learning and life, they grow into adults who live with confidence, compassion, and joy.

“When learning feels meaningful, it sticks.”

Every person needs to feel that life has meaning — that what we do and who we are truly matter. Young people are no different. From the moment they begin to wonder why things happen, they are searching for connection and significance. Their questions — “Who am I?” “What matters to me?” “How can I help?” — are not distractions; they are the beginnings of purpose.

Why Meaning and Purpose Matter

A sense of purpose helps us see beyond obstacles and keeps us going when life gets hard.

For children and youth, developing meaning supports:

Resilience — seeing challenges as opportunities for growth.
Motivation — connecting learning to what matters personally.
Self-awareness — understanding identity and values.
Empathy — caring about others and the world.

People who live with purpose experience greater well-being, stronger relationships, and deeper satisfaction. When young people begin exploring what matters early in life, they carry that strength with them into adulthood.

The Role of Education

Education is not just about facts and exams — it’s also about helping young people make sense of life.

Supporting meaning and purpose in schools means:

Connecting lessons to real-life stories and values.
Encouraging reflection: “Why does this matter to me?”
Giving students opportunities to help others.
Modeling authenticity and integrity.

When students see that what they learn has purpose, school becomes more than preparation — it becomes inspiration.

Growing Meaning and Purpose Through the Ages

Infancy (0–3 years): Discovering love and trust.

Teacher’s role: Providing warmth, care, and security.

Preschool (4–6 years): Exploring wonder and kindness.

Teacher’s role: Encouraging curiosity and empathy through stories and play.

Early School (7–10 years): Understanding fairness and responsibility.

Teacher’s role: Showing how actions make a difference.

Tweens (11–13 years): Searching for identity and belonging.

Teacher’s role: Supporting reflection, dialogue, and diverse perspectives.

Teens (14–18 years): Defining purpose and contribution.

Teacher’s role: Guiding service projects and purpose-driven learning.

Impact for Students, Teachers, and Families

When schools make space for meaning and purpose, young people develop confidence, empathy, and direction. The result is a classroom culture of curiosity, care, and intentional learning. And the impact reaches far beyond the school doors—rippling into families, communities, and the kind of society we choose to build.