Life After High School: Fostering Independence and Planning for the Future

Life after high school offers endless possibilities and limitless potential. The journey forward is exciting for recent graduates, and the choices they make will help shape the rest of their lives.    

No matter which path students choose after graduation, the joy of increased independence brings with it the burden of added responsibility. This delicate balance between freedom and accountability requires appropriate planning and a unique set of life skills that isn’t part of the traditional academic curriculum. 

Managing finances, finding work, getting along with others – these skills can be just as essential as arithmetic, biology, or history, which is why teaching them as part of a comprehensive homeschool education is so critical. For an educator, there is perhaps no higher purpose than teaching your students to take ownership of their own lives and responsibility for their own learning.

Cultivating Independence in Learning and Decision-Making

If you’ve been homeschooling your child since the beginning, you (and they) undoubtedly understand the importance of self-directed learning and the personal accountability that goes with it. As your student prepares for high school and life after high school, having them take increasing ownership of their educational and career paths becomes much more critical. 

Starting in about seventh grade, educators and students should begin having discussions about post-high school plans. It’s important to understand that simply asking, “What do you want to do after high school?” probably won’t prompt much discussion, simply because the concept is still relatively abstract. At this stage, a better way to begin preparation for the independence of high school and beyond is to encourage self-reflection. 

Start by helping the student understand their strengths, interests, and values. Encourage them to reflect on their passions and what they enjoy. Self-awareness is the first step toward setting meaningful goals. 

Next, allow them to explore on their own the different paths their interests can take them. If they like bugs, for example, let them investigate the various disciplines related to entomology, such as public health sciences, pest control, or biological research. Encourage them to explore other interests as well, so they have various avenues to pursue.

As they move forward, ask your student to weigh the pros and cons of each potential field to make informed choices about where they want their interests to lead them. This helps foster critical thinking and hones decision-making skills that will serve them well the rest of their lives.

Fostering Intentional Conversations About the Future

To engage in meaningful discussions with students about their aspirations, strengths, and interests, start by creating a comfortable and non-judgmental environment. Ask open-ended questions that encourage reflection, such as “What do you envision for your future?” or “What activities make you feel most fulfilled?” Actively listen to their responses and offer constructive feedback. 

It’s important to remember you’re not trying to “lock” your child into a particular field or discipline. Rather, you’re helping them set up the discovery and goal-setting process. Mindfulness and reflection can personalize this process and help students establish their own motivations and strategies for moving forward.

One last thing—this discussion shouldn’t feel like a quiz or a test for the students, where they might mistakenly believe there is a “right” or “wrong” answer. Instead, the questions should be rhetorical in nature, prompting thoughtful responses that help them evolve their thinking and align their passion and aspirations with actionable steps. 

Exploring Post-high School Opportunities

Unlike previous generations, where a college education was the singular approach for most graduates, today’s young adults have many viable options. Parents and educators should help students understand the choices available to them and let them weigh the benefits and drawbacks of each.

Going directly into the workforce can be an excellent choice for students who wish to save money or pursue a certain path. This is especially true if they already have a job they enjoy that offers advancement potential and fulfillment. 

Starting a business is sometimes an option for young people who have the necessary drive and vision. Thanks to the internet, it is increasingly easy to start a business these days.

Trade and vocational schools provide training for a wide variety of skills, including carpentry, plumbing, metalworking, and cooking, which often pay very well and provide a high degree of job security.

The military is also a solution for students who want to serve their country or remain unsure of their future plans. Many of the life skills we will discuss later are drilled into incoming recruits, and the many activities high school graduates experience during basic training can inspire career paths and nurture ambition.

Some students choose to take a gap year before making further plans just to experience the workforce and build their savings. Taking a gap year to travel, work, or volunteer can be a great choice for students who want more time to solidify their plans or find their passion.

Attending four-year colleges and universities is still an option even though it is actually decreasing in popularity among parents and students for a variety of reasons, including the cost of tuition, cultural changes, workplace evolution, and more. While it’s still a common stepping stone for those pursuing a professional credential (such as a medical or legal degree), college is no longer the definitive destination it used to be.

As students begin to formulate and solidify their opinions, it might be helpful to acquaint them with the environment they’re considering while they’re still in high school. For example, students interested in pursuing a job right away might want to intern somewhere in their chosen field of interest first. Those considering a trade school, vocational school, or college might consider taking a tour of the school or participating in a college orientation to get a feel for what it’s like and what will be expected of them. 

Developing Essential Life Skills

While helping a young person understand their options after high school is a critical part of transitioning them to adulthood, helping them thrive as independent young adults is just as important. For parents and educators, this means teaching their high schoolers essential life skills. These typically fall into two categories: “hard” skills and “soft” skills.  

• Hard skills involve the performance of everyday tasks that life requires of us, such as cooking, cleaning, home and car repair, basic survival, hygiene, etc. 

• Soft skills involve the practical application of everyday tasks that society requires of us, such as etiquette and decorum, time management, self-discipline, financial literacy, etc. 

Most parents and teachers begin to teach their children these skills at an early age, but the urgency should pick up around the same time the formative discussions begin about life after high school. By this time, children should start developing a basic understanding of not just how to perform these tasks, but why these tasks should be performed at all. 

Each of these skills is important, but financial literacy cannot be emphasized enough. Basic money management, such as budgeting, saving, and paying taxes are critical to future success, as is understanding abstract concepts such as interest and debt, financial planning, and retirement savings.  

Creating a Supportive Transition Plan

Supporting students as they transition from high school to life beyond requires a well-thought-out transition plan, and identifying interests, exploring post-high school options, and developing life skills are some of the key components. The plan itself should bring these elements together and align them with actionable goals. It should also be flexible to adapt to changing circumstances and account for evolving ambitions. Once the plan is created, review it regularly and adjust it as circumstances require. 

Don’t overlook the need for emotional support and mental preparation. Foster a supportive environment but encourage resilience and problem-solving so students can learn to navigate challenges they encounter along the way. 

Breaking the plan down by grade level makes the most sense since each year of high school has its own set of goals. You can even add summers to the plan to ensure your child is staying active and hitting the year-round benchmarks you set together. 

By prioritizing academic readiness, skill development, and emotional well-being, parents can empower their students to confidently embark on a successful post-high school journey, equipped with the tools and support they need to thrive.

To learn more about transitioning your student to life after high school, check out this episode of The Demme Learning Show where host Gretchen Roe chats with Alice Reinhardt about transcripts, goal setting, and the conversations you want to have with your student as they enter this major life-change.