This paper describes what education students observed while studying adolescent development in a sophomore college class. The students became particularly interested in how a person's identity development interfaced with his or her ideas about the future. By using the instrument "Teens and the Future," they were able to survey adolescents about their perceptions of the future and ask about their personal plans, goals, and college interests. Survey results concurred with other research that concluded adolescents have unrealistic expectations and inconsistencies in their views for their future. Several challenges for teachers of adolescents became evident as the pre-service teachers examined the survey results. A major challenge is how to teach students to reconcile career goals and life goals when they conflict with each other. Some goals that lead to conflicting situations for adolescents include college versus marriage, living near home versus moving for jobs, and personality preferences versus taking jobs that are available. (Contains 17 references.) (JDM)