Kick-Starting Adulthood
Actionable Life Skills for Young Adults provides readers with everything they need to tackle the challenging transition to adulthood. Why was this an important book for you to write?
I was raised by a single mother who didn’t have the time and resources to teach me the necessary life skills for a smooth transition into adulthood. So when I left home and found myself on a university campus in a foreign city, the shock was overwhelming. I practically cried every day because I found it emotionally demanding. I went from the comfort of a small town where everyone knew each other to a big city where nobody seemed to care about others. In addition to not knowing anyone and experiencing a cultural shock, I didn’t even know how to cook a meal, and resources were limited, so I couldn’t afford ready-made meals either. I struggled for many years to find my footing. I eventually succeeded, but I believe that if I had been prepared in advance, it would have been less challenging.
Knowing that there are many young people in this situation, and being a mother to a preteen, I wanted to write this book to do with my daughter what my wonderful mother couldn’t do with me. I aim to share this knowledge and my experiences hoping it can help other teens better manage this transition, which is supposed to be exciting rather than intimidating.
In Actionable Life Skills for Young Adults, you cover a wide variety of topics. What type of research was required for this book?
In the process of creating Actionable Life Skills for Young Adults, the research involved a combination of personal experiences and exploration of new responsibilities that young adults need to assume from the age of 18, such as the obligation to file income tax returns. The topics were also shaped by the questions commonly raised by young adults on social media and the concerns that adults, including parents, guardians, teachers, educators, and school counselors, have—such as what life skills their teens or young individuals in their school or community should learn to succeed in life.
Given the extensive range of topics to cover and the limitations on space within the book, the focus was on fundamental knowledge. As a result, the selected topics aimed at addressing the essential skills required to “kick-start” the exciting adventure of adulthood while encouraging readers to further investigate additional skills that align with their specific needs and goals, using the 5WH^2 method. This way, readers will not be limited by the book’s content since they are invited to explore new horizons with the assistance of trusted adults.
What is one thing you wish you had been told when you were making the jump from a teenager into an independent adult?
Learning to live within my means and make the most of the available resources.
What is the next book you are working on, and when will it be available?
Puberty for girls. Hopefully, the book will be ready for Christmas.
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Original source: https://literarytitan.com/2024/02/15/kick-starting-adulthood/