THE EDUCATION CATALYST

We Celebrate the Decision

Every year, students celebrate College Decision Day.

They choose a school, a path, a direction—and it’s something to be proud of.

But while everyone is focused on that decision, something just as important is happening at the same time:

They are becoming legally responsible for themselves.

And most of them have never been taught what that actually means.

What Actually Changes at 18

Turning 18 doesn’t just give your child independence—it removes layers of protection.

They can now legally:

• Sign contracts

• Share personal information

• Open accounts

• Take on financial responsibility

And once those decisions are made, they don’t come with a reset button.

They follow them.

Where the Risk Shows Up in Real Life

This isn’t always a big, obvious mistake.

Sometimes it starts small.

A student turns 18 before graduating. Someone they trust—maybe a friend, maybe even family—asks them to help out.

It sounds simple:

• “Just put this in your name”

• “It’s temporary”

• “I’ll take care of it”

They agree.

Months later, they’re dealing with consequences they never expected:

• Damaged credit

• A loan tied to their name

• Their information used in ways they didn’t fully understand

Not because they were careless—

But because no one had taught them how to protect themselves in that moment.

This Is Not Rare—It’s Documented

According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC, 2024):

• Young adults report losing money to fraud more often than older adults

• People in their late teens and 20s are among the most frequently targeted groups

Identity theft and fraud losses continue to reach billions of dollars annually in the United States (FTC, 2024; Experian, 2024).

This often begins with:

• A request for personal information

• A rushed decision

• Or trust placed in the wrong situation

Young adults are not unprepared because they lack intelligence.

They are unprepared because they are new to navigating real-world risk.

The Gap We Don’t Prepare Them For

We prepare students to graduate and move forward.

We don’t consistently prepare them to:

• Protect their identity

• Understand contracts

• Recognize manipulation

• Slow down decisions

Without that knowledge, they are legally independent—but functionally unprotected.

This Is Where Families Matter Most

Schools can provide information.

They cannot:

• Guide personal legal decisions

• Monitor who your child trusts

• Protect them outside of school

• Prepare them for every real-world situation

This isn’t a failure of schools.

It’s a reality.

Protection at this level comes from intentional conversations at home.

This Is a Conversation We’re Having at Home Too

This isn’t something I’m writing about from a distance.

It’s something I’ve started working through with my own children.

I’ve had conversations with my sons about:

• Not sharing personal information like their Social Security number

• Slowing down before agreeing to anything

• Understanding that not every request deserves a yes

And recently, we’ve started talking about Power of Attorney—not because something is wrong, but because we are learning, together, what it means to step into adulthood with both independence and protection.

We don’t have it all figured out.

We’re learning in real time.

Just like so many families are.

A Hard but Necessary Truth About Trust

One of the most important things we can teach our children is this:

Not everyone who is close to you is always the right person to make decisions for you.

Being close to someone and being the right person to handle legal or financial responsibility are not always the same thing.

Because when we talk about things like Power of Attorney, we’re not just talking about trust.

We’re talking about judgment, boundaries, and long-term impact.

Helping Them Recognize Who to Trust

Trust isn’t just about who you care about—it’s about how someone shows up when decisions matter.

A person who is safe to trust will:

• Give you time to think

• Answer questions clearly

• Respect your boundaries

• Be comfortable with you getting a second opinion

At the same time, it’s important to recognize when something isn’t right.

Encourage your child to pause if someone:

• Tries to rush a decision

• Gets frustrated when they ask questions

• Uses guilt to get what they want

• Creates conflict or pressure to push a yes

• Says “just trust me” instead of explaining

• Discourages them from talking to someone else

These aren’t small behaviors.

They are signals.

What Protection Actually Looks Like

Protection isn’t control—it’s preparation.

It looks like a young adult who knows how to:

• Pause before committing to something

• Ask questions without pressure

• Say no when something doesn’t feel right

• Go to someone they trust before making a decision

And sometimes, the most important step is simply not deciding right away.

Give Them Language They Can Use

In high-pressure moments, clarity matters.

Give them something simple to fall back on:

• “I need time to think about it.”

• “I’m not signing anything today.”

• “Can I get a copy first?”

That pause can protect their future.

Be Direct About Personal Information

Your child needs to understand that not everyone should have access to:

• Their Social Security number

• Their financial information

• Their name on an account or agreement

Even when it’s someone they trust.

Especially then.

Put Real Protections in Place

This is where preparation becomes action.

Power of Attorney (POA) allows a trusted adult to:

• Support decision-making

• Step in when needed

• Provide guidance without removing independence

The question is not just who your child trusts—

It’s who will make decisions that protect them, even when it’s difficult.

Normalize Legal Support

Young adults should feel comfortable saying:

“I want to talk to a lawyer before I sign this.”

That’s not fear.

That’s protection.

Real-World Steps Families Can Take Right Now

Awareness matters—but action is what protects your child.

Start with a few practical steps:

Review and monitor credit
Have your child check their credit for free through
AnnualCreditReport.com

Consider a credit freeze through:

• Equifax

• Experian

• TransUnion

Create a pause plan
Agree as a family that your child will never sign anything on the spot.

Build a trusted support circle
Make sure they know exactly who to go to before making a major decision.

Know where to get help
Identity theft can be reported through
IdentityTheft.gov

For Families of Students with Disabilities

For students receiving services under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, there is an additional transition at 18.

Educational rights transfer to the student.

Families may need to consider:

• Educational Power of Attorney

• Supported decision-making

• Additional legal supports

Planning ahead here is critical.

Decision Day Is One Moment—Protection Is Ongoing

College Decision Day is about choosing a direction.

Real life is about maintaining control of your future while you figure that direction out.

Your child is allowed to:

• Change direction

• Pivot

• Grow

But they need to do that without losing:

• Their identity

• Their financial stability

• Their ability to choose again

Real-World Solution

We don’t need students to have everything figured out at 18.

We need them to know how to:

• Recognize risk

• Protect themselves

• Slow down decisions

• Ask for help

That’s what keeps their future intact.

Call to Action

If your child is approaching 18—

Don’t wait for a mistake to teach the lesson.

Have the conversation.
Put protections in place.
Give them the knowledge before they need it.

Closing Reflection

Turning 18 gives young adults independence.

But independence without knowledge leaves them exposed.

When we teach them how to protect themselves—

We’re not limiting their future.

We’re making sure it isn’t taken from them.

In solidarity,
Lyndsay LaBrier
The Merchant Ship Collective

References

Federal Trade Commission. (2024). Consumer sentinel network data book 2023. https://www.ftc.gov

Experian. (2024). Identity theft and fraud statistics. https://www.experian.com

AnnualCreditReport.com. (n.d.). Free credit reports. https://www.annualcreditreport.com

IdentityTheft.gov. (n.d.). Identity theft recovery. https://www.identitytheft.gov

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 (2004).

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1232g (1974).