Childhood is a tough stage, but becoming a young adult can also be hard.  As people turn 18, they have to make decisions that start them on a path to their future.  Hopefully they go out into the world with an education that they can use to get them started, but some do not.  Some decide to get on to college, others find jobs, and others are stuck somewhere in between.  Some have the support of family, and others move forward with little support.  Some young adults have great plans and others are lost.  Being a young adult is not easy, and it’s about to get harder as more responsibility comes into view.

As young adults move into the job market, or even into college life, the transition is a big one.  Unlike the changes in childhood, the transition into adulthood is racked with uncertainty.  There is a safety in moving from elementary school to middle school, but kids still live with family and have support.  If kids move on to college they may be greeted by situations that they haven’t had any experience managing and they now are away from their support system.  They have to work on understanding new types of relationships, protecting themselves from being taken advantage of, and keep themselves safe in a world that is different from when I went to school.  College can be a wonderful experience, but can also chew you up and spit you out.

If young adults enter the work force, they may have to deal with rejection.  Gone are the days of finding great jobs just out of high school.  Many years ago, young adults could graduate from high school and go on to manufacturing jobs that would pay well.  Now, finding a job fresh out of high school may mean applying to 20-30 jobs to get an offer.  Not many people can manage that kind of rejection, and it’s hard to convince someone that it’s normal but these days it is normal and common.  Starting pay isn’t great, and very hard to live on these days, but it’s a start.

If young adults are lucky, they find a strong path that leads to a job that makes them independent.  They get settled in their new jobs, with or without college, a place of their own to live, and maybe even a relationship that means something if that is a goal.  They might be starting to look more into the future like career goals.  They might be thinking about where they want to live, if they want to travel, and if they want kids.  They might be visiting home stores to find their style, and enjoying setting up their own space, but they are also getting used to paying bills, balancing a budget, and at times, borrowing from Peter to pay Paul.  It’s not easy in this phase of life, but they are working to get the hang of being an adult.

As young adults work to become independent, they may have ups and downs.  They may have money issues and end up having to go back a few steps.  They may have money issues and need a roommate to help with bills after a setback.  They may need to move home with family, to reorganize.  They may have to make hard decisions, manage setbacks, disappointments, and so much more.  Growing pains as a young adult is normal, and most people go through them.  Having to manage the issues that come along with being a young adult is all a part of being happy, for life.