“A series of rituals that mark the transition of a person from childhood into adulthood with all the rights and responsibilities of that social position!”
 
Overview:

Public schools in Western N. Carolina partner with seniors' organizations in the region, to provide a unique educational opportunity for high school students to learn what it takes to truly become an adult from the many active and vibrant seniors in the community.

The program matches high school students with elders who offer the students their insights, experiences and years of SAGE wisdom in what it takes to successfully navigate the passage into adulthood.

The classroom series explores the myths, half-truths and realities of coming of age in America. The “Journey into Adulthood” series helps underscore the fact that being an adult means much more than driving a car, voting or being able to buy alcohol.

Instead, these fun, fast-paced and highly interactive sessions examine the true emotional, psychological, and social aspects of what it means to really “grow up!”

Objectives:

As a result of attending the “Journey into Adulthood,” students will...

1. Recognize the complex, challenging and often unseen stages that they must pass
    through to achieve true adulthood.

2. Compare and contrast how boys versus girls grow into adulthood in America.

3. Learn strategies from elders to productively address the challenges to achieving
    adulthood.

4. Explore how different cultures past and present deal with rites of passage into adulthood

5. Develop a personal “Life-Map” charting the best course to take to successfully navigate
    the challenges of becoming an adult based on their unique life circumstances.