From the mouths of babes

Data collection for my youth survey is, at long last, complete. Now comes the daunting task of coding and analyzing all 317 responses - Excel, SPSS and I are going to be spending some quality time together in the coming weeks.

My first task has been sorting through and categorizing all the responses to the open-ended questions about personal goals and problems facing Cajabamba's youth. Here's a sample of the most amusing goals, from the perspective of Cajabambans aged 11-29:
--Own an airplane.
--Live in peace and harmony.
--Be recognized worldwide (this one also wants to work in TV).
--Have a lot of people working for me.
--Be involved in a lot of good activities.
--Discover something that hasn't been invented yet.
--Make people stop holding so many strikes/protests.
--Be happy.*

*This one is my favorite, but only ONE of the 317 kids surveyed put this as a goal!

Although these gems are what keep me going through otherwise tedious data-work, in reality most of the respondents put more serious goals related to work, education, family, and helping their community. Should be interesting to eventually see the full results.