Work and wellness have long been linked in the field of psychology, but few researchers have studied this topic with rural emerging adults without a high school diploma. Overall, rural areas in the United States have higher rates of poverty and lower educational attainment than nonrural areas. This narrative inquiry illuminates how precariousness in home and school contexts influenced the work trajectories and aspirations of ten 20- to 25-year-old research participants. Findings contribute to the psychology of working theory by illuminating the individual and contextual factors that generated possibility and constraint in the lives of young workers with limited education and significant adverse experiences. While traumatic experiences continued to trouble the lives of research participants, there was also evidence of post-traumatic growth, the construction of aspirational narratives, and positive future orientation. Community mentors, including teachers and employers, made a difference. Implications for educators and counselors are discussed.

在心理学领域，工作和健康长期以来一直联系在一起，但是很少有研究人员与没有高中文凭的农村新兴成年人一起研究这个话题。总体而言，与非农村地区相比，美国农村地区的贫困率更高，受教育程度较低。这篇叙事性探究阐明了家庭和学校环境中的不稳定因素如何影响了10位20至25岁的研究参与者的工作轨迹和愿望。研究结果阐明了个体和背景因素，这些因素在受过有限教育和重大不良经历的年轻工人的生活中产生了可能性和局限性，从而有助于工作理论的心理学研究。虽然创伤经历继续困扰着研究参与者的生活，但也有证据表明创伤后的成长，志向叙事的建构，以及积极的未来定位。社区导师，包括教师和雇主，都发挥了作用。讨论了对教育者和辅导员的影响。