[abowers]

I am not a parent yet either--

But I can tell you I graduated from HS at age 17, turned 18 over the summer and started college that fall. College was 25 minutes from my parents house, but I lived on campus anyway. We couldn't stay on campus over the summers, so I lived at home over the summer after my freshman, sophomore, and junior years of college. I worked full time over the summers and breaks, and about 20-30 hours during the school year. Senior Year- Fall semester (also my last semester) of College, I had just turned 21, and I moved into an apartment with 2 people I went to school with. I could have stayed at home, but I don't know I would have been able to get work done there for a number of reasons... and rent at this apartment was supercheap, so it was a good way to "try out" living away from home and not on a college campus before moving out of the area the following summer. I finished classes in December, was hired at one of the places where I did an internship through college.

I worked anywhere from 30-50 hours/week there until July after I officially graduated, then I moved to Princeton NJ with my boyfriend who is working on his PhD. I turned 22 a week after moving, and started working here full time within a month after moving. I applied to graduate school and have been accepted to start this summer for my master's degree.

My sister graduated from High School at age 18, chose not to go to college, has worked full time since graduating from hs, and just turned 20. She just found an apartment and moved out of my parent's house last month.