What types of challenges did you face from transitioning from adolescence to young adulthood?

I was questioning whether I should come out as a gay man or remain in the closet. I also faced a growing love for alcohol which led me to close to 20 years of active alcoholism. Those two things are firmly linked in my experience, by the way.

Being socially isolated…. no one cares if I show up late for class. Being given to much leeway and to much rope to hang my proverbial self. Losing nap time was bad. So I had to fight for the freedom to nap and drink as many juice boxes as I want. No curfew.

Accepting the world is unfair was a biggy for me. I still struggle with it, but I have a better understanding as an adult.

What to do about school. I didn’t like high school mostly because I was physically exhausted. I got out early and started Jr. College. Deciding to leave to go away to a large university, with my father pushing me to go, was a big decision.

Leaving for college put stress on my relationship with my boyfriend who I had been dating for years. He was a liar and cheater, and of course that ramped up with me gone. Finally breaking up with im was a traumatic part of my transition from adolescence to adulthood. It was emotionally devasting to me. It affected physically as well for many months. I lashed out at my father for pushing me to go away to school, even though I had loved my time at school. When I returned home after I graduated I became a wreck again being in my hometown, which helped push me to move to a new city and start my life as an adult on my own.

Clarification: I consider my college years to be part of adolescence. I live in another state, and overall I was a very reponsible young women. I didn’t drink or drug, I always went to my classes (although I barely studied, which I regret), I was careful with money, and I worked part of my time while in school. But, I was financially dependent on my parents and not out there with all the responsibilities of adulthood.

Escaping an abusive family, trying to make a romantic relationship work despite the best efforts of that family, and my own loss of faith.

If my 20 year old self met me today (27), she wouldn’t recognize me.

My parents home was in Oakland, but far away from any bus line or business. Trying to get that first job, since I didn’t have a drivers license was a bitch.

Being responsible for yourself, especially paying your own bills, can be an eye-opener.
At times it seems sad, woe is me that nobody is going to take care of me the way parents used to. But it is also a very empowering time.

As @JLeslie mentions, realizing that life is not fair can be a bitter pill. That also helps one really appreciate kindness from others and in yourself.

And as @Seek_Kolinahr notes it can be a time to figure out how to get out from under some of the imperfections of the environment you grew up in… quite a challenge.

My challenges were getting along with a bi-polar alcoholic single mother, trying to parent her and resenting it.
I also struggled with wanting to stay close to God but wanting to rebel and be really wild, too.

At the time, I also forced my half-sibs to acknowledge my existance which caused problems for my bio-father.

I had a hard time at school staying focused because I wanted to party, then I moved out at 17 so I could be independent. So I went into real estate and went to work, and by then I was making good money so it ruined me for college and partying.

As far as boys, I stayed a virgin until 18, then a boyfriend or two, then molested by a ‘friend’ after a party night, then basically married up for the next 8 years until I met my husband. The first guy I lived with was gorgeous but bad and led me into a gang-like lifestyle where I probably learned more about the rough side of life than I ever did before or since. Looking back, I’m aware that I’m lucky to have survived.