The poems in Pathways are divided into categories that express overriding themes that have continually presented themselves to Asterino as important in her life. Through her words, she expresses the need for cultural attitude changes including cultural priority shifts. Her greatest desire is for her grandchildren to have a fighting chance for a future. It is through several decades of writing and self-exploration that Asterino has learned to be more observant about the world and about culture. Most importantly, she has learned about how our awareness of others and how we treat others affects everyone else, everywhere.