A follow-up study examined the life and educational histories of selected adult basic education (ABE) students and the perceived impact of such experiences on their personal growth. Interviewed survey participants were asked about the effect of ABE on the following areas of their lives: self-image, attitudes towards life, self-direction, ability to relate to people, working with others, problem solving, attitude towards learning, competing for jobs, consumer skills, meeting one's own goals, and learner success. While most of those interviewed expressed a need to enhance their self-concept, their attitude towards life was surprisingly optimistic. Many interviewees evidenced a dependency on and difficulty in relating to others and difficulty in solving problems. Although most study participants were uncertain about their ability to compete successfully for jobs, they felt that ABE considerably sharpened their consumer skills and helped them reach their personal goals. In general, they wanted more educational programs, increased support services, and more teachers who could assess learner needs and interests and make learning easier yet more challenging. (MN)