As students move through their high school years, most gain the necessary content knowledge to pass courses and build a strong foundation for future learning. And while they have also likely had opportunities to develop skills in communication, teamwork, adaptability, and problem solving, there is another layer of readiness that often gets overlooked, but is just as important to their future success.

This layer—the day-to-day tasks required for independent living—is critical, yet often underdeveloped. 

Independence is not automatic; it is a set of skills learned from practice. The high school years provide a crucial window of opportunity where students can practice these tasks in a low-stakes learning environment with ample support. Counselors and educators might creatively embed real-life learning opportunities into academic content or encourage parents and caregivers to take an active role in helping students to learn and practice these tasks at home. It can be helpful to suggest to parents or caregivers to shift from doing tasks for students to doing tasks with students in order to build the competence and confidence necessary to navigate the next steps with ease. And summer, in particular, can be an ideal time to work on some of these skills.  

As you communicate with students and families, share the list below to help guide them on ways to prepare for life beyond high school. Encourage students to check off everything on the list before they leave home after their senior year. 

A Growth Mindset

While it can seem that some high schoolers are naturally more independent than others, it is important to remember that independence is a skill to learn, not a personality trait. Maintaining this growth mindset encourages students, families, educators, and everyone in a student’s support system to teach these skills and provides practice with low stakes situations where students can build their confidence. The more time and repetition that students have, the more they can build fluency in these everyday tasks. 

The ability for students to manage everyday responsibilities can make a significant difference to their comfort living away from home—giving them more room to focus on their academics and college life without the stress of learning these daily tasks for the very first time. With an intentional transition towards independence, students can learn more than just academics; they can learn to navigate life. 

‍