Table 1.

Example essay excerpts of how constructs were coded

	Codes
	1	2
Choice	“The ardent desire to live for Christ Crucified could not be resisted. More thoroughly than ever convinced that the world was never to know me I departed it with joy on {month} {date}, {year} when I received the Bonnet in {congregation} Monastery Convent Chapel.”	“Just when I received the desire to become a sister I do not know, for as long as I can remember, even as a child, I always expressed the desire to my parents. … When I finished high school I was not able to enter due to my father's unemployment. … During this time I had not only helped my parents, but also saved enough to embrace my heart's fondest desire. In the meantime my father had received steady employment, so I felt free to enter as I had the consent of my parents and approval of my confessor, Father {last name}.”
Pressure	“At the end of my second year at highschool, I was persuaded to join three other girls who were going to the Aspiranture in {city}.”	“The Sisters urged me to return with her, but I was as still in doubt. I prayed to the blessed Virgin to help me and to show me the way, for I had great confidence in her. The blessed Virgin did help me and led me here. How? I do not know, but in a week's time I was ready to enter with the new class.”
Self‐reflection	“I heard this statement from my aunt. ‘Those who always say they are going to be Sisters are the very ones who get married.’ From the day I listened to my aunt's speech I seldom again ever said I would be a Sister.”	“Our visits with him each Thanksgiving and summer made a deep impression and turned my mind to the great question of ‘what doth it profit?’ His growth in physical health and spiritual peace made me reflect and it is to his example of courage and perseverance that I gratefully attribute my own following of Christ's call. Of course the annual retreats at school, especially those of my last college years, prepared the way but his ready sacrifice of all that was near and dear gave me something concrete to ponder over and imitate.”
Integrating experience	“This first break from home was hard, very hard. I was an only child and I know my mother felt my leaving keenly, but the beautiful spirit in which she made the sacrifice, helped to lessen the pain of parting.”	“The doctor confirmed my mother's fears—it was scarlet fever. The doctor fought for four months what he termed would be a ‘losing battle,’ but faith and prayers triumphed and I was spared. … [T]hen Mother said, ‘If you think you will like that life; be happy with the choice, I will not stand in your way. Perhaps God spared you to me years ago—so that I could give you back to Him.’ Joy and sorrow filled my heart—joy at the consent of my dearest one on earth and sorrow at the thought of leaving so tender a mother.”
Parent autonomy support	(–1) “My Mother cannot be reconciled to my Vocation, and the knowledge of the suffering which I have caused her, has been the one unhappy obstacle, to an otherwise perfectly happy year.”	(1) “Though this was a sudden shock to my parents, they consented cheerfully, allowing me to finish highschool at {institution}.”