Identity and Career: An Analysis of Emerging Meteorologists’ Narratives

Abstract The narratives of emerging adults, such as university students, can reveal aspects their professional and academic identities that explain career paths. While narrative has been studied a tool in the meteorological classroom, not used to study why students choose become meteorologists. This aims identify features about what draws pursue meteorology reflect upon how telling these help counselors other stakeholders, like universities, understand this discipline students. is qualitative textual analysis N = 34 video clips from around United States submitted for 2020 AMS Student Conference welcome video, #MyFieldMyStory campaign. findings show formative experiences early childhood memories, mediated with weather, family interactions were major life themes students’ stories. Other reasons chose path concerns over local climatic effects, desire control course study, curiosity stemming internships research opportunities, confidence personal math/science propensity school, commitment do work mitigate effects severe weather or inform people impending threats. also showed optimism future jobs graduate well an exploration identity through finding passion path. interesting initial delve into narratively analyzing stories