In our first 18 years of life, our goals are fairly structured.  We go to school, we have a part-time job, we develop relationships and obtain a driver’s license, and we’re supposed to get ready to emancipate from the family home.  What lies beyond high school graduation (or perhaps past college graduation) is more ambiguous and challenging for some individuals to navigate.  They find themselves asking questions like, “What do I do now?  How do I know if I’m doing a good job?  Everyone else has graduated, is getting married and having kids, and I haven’t.  Does that mean something is wrong with me?”

I think one key to getting through young adulthood with the fewest emotional scars is to have a plan that is your own.  Reframe the question “What do I do now?” to “What do I WANT to do now?  What is important to me in life?  What do I want to accomplish?  What is my own agenda and how do I get there?”  This is a time to begin the transition from external sources of influence (parents, teachers, coaches, friends, etc.) to internal standards (where you are the guide).  It may not be an easy transition, yet it is important to cultivate and own your future and that which is important to you.