Ready or not, here life comes

the long version

A nationally known pediatrician and author addresses the question of why some youngsters make a successful transition into adulthood while others do not. Parents and schools often raise children in a highly structured world, leaving them unable to cope on their own. Dr. Levine urges that schools teach "life prep," equipping adolescents with what they will need to succeed as adults. He identifies these skills as "the four I's": inner direction, or self-awareness; interpretation, or understanding the outside world; instrumentation, or the acquisition of mental tools; and interaction, or the ability to relate to other people effectively. He offers advice for young adults who find themselves unable to navigate the world of careers.