Your High School Senior Still Needs You.

Congratulations! Your high school student has taken a major step toward independence. But are they truly ready for the challenges ahead?

For most young adults, the answer is no. While graduating from high school is an important milestone, it doesn’t mean they’re fully prepared to navigate the adult world alone. At 18, they’re still developing—both emotionally and neurologically. In fact, research shows that the brain’s frontal lobe, which governs decision-making and impulse control, isn’t fully developed until around age 25.

Despite this, many young adults are expected to make significant life decisions on their own, such as choosing a career, managing finances, or living independently. Without adequate support, this pressure can be overwhelming and can lead to setbacks. Some will struggle—not due to lack of effort, but because they lack the necessary guidance.

Parents often believe that once a child graduates high school, they should be ready to either head to college and succeed without assistance or jump straight into the workforce and handle all responsibilities alone. This expectation, however, is often unrealistic.

The truth is that parental involvement during this transitional phase is critical. Offering guidance on decisions about credit, college life, jobs, and financial planning can make a significant difference. Helping your child explore career options and supporting them through the early steps of adulthood lays the foundation for long-term success.

Without this support, some young adults may find themselves stuck in low-paying jobs with limited opportunities, making it harder to change course later in life. Striking the right balance between independence and support is key to helping them build a stable and fulfilling future. So parents, continue to support and guide your older teens well beyond high school graduation. You’ll spend more years knowing them as adults than you did as children. Give them opportunities to grow into becoming a responsible adult, but do not expect it to happen when they are still this young. Maintain high—but realistic—expectations, like getting into college or trade school and completing these programs well so they can have a higher paying job, better opportunities to move up the corporate ladder or open businesses and live on their own one day in the future. Be there to offer steady guidance, practical advice, emotional help, and strong role modeling as they navigate the early stages of adulthood.

Keep in mind that your child’s interests may shift over time—and that’s perfectly normal. One student might earn a degree in Fisheries and Aquaculture before deciding to become a Pharmacist. Another might attend pastry school to become a Pastry Chef, only to later transfer to college and earn a Master’s degree in Education.

Set high standards for your children but walk alongside them as they work toward their goals. Support and guidance during these formative years are invaluable. Allowing your child to wander from job to job, barely paying the bills and not have any unique skills to be able to get anywhere in life, is somewhat on you as a parent until they have fully developed brains.

Love and support them with high expectations for success in careers, life and love. Teach them to be respected by their community, friends and family. But most importantly, teach them to love God and to honor Him in all they do. Putting God first in their lives, in decision making and in daily living is the most important lesson you can give your children. One day, when they’ve truly found their path, they’ll look back and be grateful you didn’t leave every decision solely on their shoulders before they were ready. Between you and God leading their paths, they will not fail.

Lisa Mears, Family Joy Life Coach