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Resources / Life after high school

Planning for life after high school

Transition means moving from being a kid to being a young adult — and from school to adult life. It can feel exciting and scary at once. These are the questions worth asking now, sorted into eight parts of life. Check the ones you've already talked about, and take the rest to your next planning meeting.

0 of 39 questions talked about

There is no score here. Unchecked questions are just your next conversation.

Daily life & work

School, jobs, volunteering, routines, life skills

It feels far away, but one day the bus stops coming and your school day ends. Deciding now what your days will look like makes that change a lot easier.

Community living

Housing, getting around, community access

There are more choices than most people realize about where and how you live as an adult. Planning early opens up more of them.

Safety & security

Well-being, emergencies, rights, decision making

People may tell you that you need a guardian at 18. Before anyone decides that, it's worth knowing your rights and the alternatives, like supported decision making.

Friends & belonging

Friendships, relationships, fun, faith community

The people you meet in high school often become your adult circle — friends, roommates, coworkers, the person who gives you a ride. Those relationships matter as much as any class.

Healthy living

Health care, mental health, wellness, food and movement

As an adult you make your own health decisions. Learning your own health story now — and who your adult providers will be — keeps you in charge later.

Advocacy & speaking up

Choices, goals, responsibility, being heard

Transition is when you take the wheel. That means sharing your own goals in meetings, making real choices, and taking on more responsibility.

Services & supports

Benefits, money, planning meetings, community resources

Everyone uses a mix of supports: their own strengths, people, technology, community options, and sometimes paid services. Know what's out there before you need it.

My family

What your family needs to keep supporting you

Your family's role changes as you become an adult — it doesn't end. Talking about that shift out loud makes it smoother for everyone.

Questions adapted from the Focus on Transition to Adulthood quick guide from the Charting the LifeCourse Nexus (© 2020 Curators of the University of Missouri, UMKC IHD).