I conducted surveys, focus group interviews, and analyzed the yearbooks of fifty four yearbook students from five rural high schools to investigate students' process of yearbook construction and to determine what was meaningful and memorable to them throughout their high school experience. Chang's (1992) construct of an adolescent ethos, including the elements of getting along with everyone, being involved, and being independent, provided a conceptual framework, and was affirmed by students' responses. References to rites of passage and intensification embedded in the high school program as described by Burnett (1969) confirmed these students' perceptions of high school as a four year passage experience. (Contains 3 tables.)