No one teaches you how to adult anymore. Home economics classes are just about extinct and instead of the previous generation offering solutions to this lack of knowledge, they judge the up and coming generation for being slacker millennials. Well I am going to give you some advice for what you need to start doing your senior year of high school and the next few years following.
1. Apply for a credit card.
Welcome to the real world. In America, we run off of plastic. You may have no plans to buy a car on your own, or think about renting your own place, but now is the time you need to start building credit. Don't be scared that you are going to get yourself into debt. Chances are, the bank your are applying with will not give you a high credit limit based on the fact you have no credit history. Just get one... and pay it off every month. No exceptions.
2. Seriously consider your college of choice.
Thankfully, right out of high school I knew what I wanted to do. Instead of making impossible dreams about the 4-year of my choice like 90% of my classmates did, I knew I could start at a community college and save myself a lot of money. And, I am soooo glad I did. I graduated virtually debt free and started making $60,000 year. Then, a year later, I went back to a 4-year for my Bachelor's degree and, well I make more now. I have a steady income and can pay my student debt off quickly and efficiently. Seriously. This is the way to go if you can. Plus, how many people do you know that got a year or two in, and completely changed their minds on what they wanted to do...
3. Learn how to cook.
This is essential to adulting. No, not learning how to make a 4-course French cuisine. You need to know the basics. Breakfast essentials, quick lunch prep, and crockpot dinners. Thankfully, while no one was there to teach you how to boil and egg, youtube is there for you now and can show you anything from egg boiling to that French cuisine I mentioned. Eating out or eating processed foods on the daily because you don't know how to cook is a lame excuse for what will inevitably be your poor health. Get to learning.
4. Accept you aren't the center of the universe.
In the adult world, no one cares about your social status. Your boss wants to know you are dependable and do what you say you are going to do. Your once large group of "friends" will dwindle to who you make the effort to see. And your college professors don't care if you show up. You are going to need to accept that you need to be the driving force in your life. Care about yourself, focus on you own goals, and keep pressing forward. Oh, and be a kind human. While you think your life is changing, someone else's might just be crashing down. Lift 'em up.
5. You need to make money.
Surprise, going to college is not a job. But I am taking 348 credits this semester. No one cares. You need to both work and go to school. You are not in high school anymore. The days that you dreamed that you'd be out of high school are officially over and you need to start working. If you can afford to go to school and only work part-time thanks to the support of your loved ones, great! Get those perfect grades. But if you find yourself struggling to make ends meet because you are "focused on school", get a job. There are a lot of people that work full-time ++ hours and still graduate. You can do it too. I believe in you.
In closing, I welcome you to adult land and I do wish you the best. The world is at your finger tips, but it is up to you to make the smart decisions that will shape your future.
