Congratulations on Your High School Graduation! You're moving into a new phase of life. You may be going off to start college or trade school or a new job, leaving your childhood home to create a new home of your own. You're becoming independent. You've Got This! In your new abode-and independence-you'll be learning more about who you are, how you want to live, who you want to interact with, what you want and don't want, and what you need and don't need. You'll gain more clarity on your priorities and values. And many of these priorities and values will change over time because you'll change, and the world will change around you. Change Is Natural and Inevitable This is an exciting phase of your life with great times ahead. There will also be ups and downs, issues, conflicts, and problems to solve.

We've been there. That's why we created this book with the hope that it will be helpful as you get through the hard stuff and come out the other side feeling more confident and wiser. Whether you'll be living in a dorm, an apartment, or a shared house, this book is here for you-filled with useful advice, hacks, and a little humor as you walk your path. While launching our sons off to college, they sometimes needed guidance, and so did we. Everyone does. So, in this book we compiled what we found the most meaningful and useful from many sources: parents, recent college graduates, college students, and experts. The advice comes from real-life lessons, mistakes, and wins. Just remember, though: When given suggestions for anything in your life, wisdom will guide you to consider them all, take what is useful and sensible for you, and discard the rest.

That's our suggestion about suggestions. This book was created for you, a guide to help you navigate your newfound independence. It covers the little things (like laundry hacks) and the big stuff (like navigating new relationships). We hope it is a resource you can turn to now-and in the years ahead! Love, Linda & Doug.