16 graduating high school

[Guest]

I'm 16 and live in *****. I want to leave as soon as i graduate and I will still be 16 for a month after graduation. Will my parents still be able to report even if I have a HS diploma? Also would I be able to fly domestically on my own?

[Guest]

Hey there! Thanks for connecting with us here at National Runaway Safeline. We know it can take a lot to reach out for support, and commend you for doing so. Kudos to you for being in a spot to graduate high school at 16. That takes a lot of commitment! Unfortunately that still comes with its own hurdles. In your state, the age of majority is 18. This means that you won't be considered an adult until you're 18, and your parents are still legally responsible for you. If you decide to leave home after graduation and no one knows where you are or how to find you, your parents can still report you as missing. If you plan on flying domestically, that might be a little tricky as well. You may or may not be expected to show an ID indicating how old you are. If you don't have one, you may have to show that you have parental consent to fly alone. That said, it's really hard to determine if you'd be able to fly alone without having some sort of involvement from one of your parents.

It sounds like you're really thinking more about leaving home after you graduate. If you're worried about your parents reporting you as missing or not being able to fly domestically on your own, it might be a good idea to try and have a conversation with your parents about their expectations (and yours) after graduation. Wanting independence after you've worked so hard to get through high school early is totally understandable, so it could be a good time to discuss what's next for you. If you want to talk through a plan or discuss other options, please feel free to give us a call at 1-800-RUNAWAY. You can also chat with us through our website at www.1800runaway.org. We're available 24/7 and always happy to help.

Take care!

NRS