Rarely is there an event in your life as anxiety producing as high school graduation.  So many times I have worked with people, and even my own children, around that life changing event.  Kids wait for so long for graduation.  They plan and think about that final year of high school.  They talk about senior trips (although all the recent ones were cancelled due to COVID), spending time with friends, parties, and going off to college.  They want to be independent and make their own decisions, but when the time actually comes, it can be very scary.  If you are in this time, or you are supporting someone who is, take time to plan, but also know that you don’t have to have the world figured out just yet.

                When I work with young people going through this phase of life, I hope that they have good support as they take on life’s challenges.  Making this transition alone is incredibly hard, but it can be done.  Having a parent or mentor to help steer someone through can be the difference between a successful future and overwhelming financial debt, or worse.   Just because an 18 year old has a job, don’t mean they should apply for every credit card that comes in the mail.  They may have earned the right to vote, but that doesn’t mean they understand how to manage a household or even get a bank account in their own name.  They are still learning about filing taxes, signing a lease, choosing a career, and maybe even buying a car for the first time.  Those are all anxiety producing events. 

                If this is you, and you need support, ask questions and get help.  You are not supposed to know all the ins and outs of adulthood when you turn 18 years old.  Getting support from family or a mentor that you trust can mean you make fewer mistakes.  You will make your own mistakes, but maybe smaller ones that don’t cost an arm and leg as you go forward.  Talking through signing a lease with someone you trust can be helpful as you learn to maneuver the rental market.  Even signing on for a bank account can be anxiety producing when you find that some of the accounts have fees that will bleed you dry in a month if you are not careful.

                Being an adult is great, and fun, and hard, and stressful, and rewarding, just not all at once.  If you had support through your younger years, you should have the confidence to make your mark.  If you didn’t have support and struggle to feel confident about going out in the world, know that you can do it.  This is one of those times when you can be successful because of the support you had, or in spite of the support that you didn’t have.  The more you understand, the more successful you can be, but having that person who can guide you is valuable as well.

                Never be afraid of the future.  “Your future isn’t written yet, so make it a good one!”  Those are the words of Dr. Emmet Brown, scientist from Back to the Future, and they couldn’t be more true.  People can start off great and flounder, or have issues out of the gate and end out happy.  Either way, there is always tomorrow to make changes for the better.  Getting out of high school and being an adult is exciting and scary, but there are so many options and possibilities.  Take steps slowly toward the rest of your life, and get help if you need it.  It’s all part of being happy, for life.