Each year, we work with young men who find themselves in a difficult in-between space after high school. They are no longer on a clear path, and are lacking clarity on what comes next.
One young man’s story from our SOAR retreat reflects a challenge many young men face after high school.
Being far from home in a large city felt overwhelming to him. He found himself questioning not only where he was, but what he was doing. Returning home felt like a setback, something he wasn’t sure how to explain to his parents. Without his high school friends around, he felt increasingly uncertain and alone.
Instead of continuing to isolate and become paralyzed, he made a different choice to attend the SOAR retreat with encouragement from those who cared about him. He stepped into something new, a small group experience designed to help him reconnect with himself and others.
Over the course of a few days, something began to shift.
He formed real friendships. He prepared meals for others. He tried things he wouldn’t have considered before. He laughed more than he had in months. And slowly, he began to see himself differently – not as someone who had failed, but as someone capable of moving forward.
This kind of experience is more common than many people realize.
When the Track Ends
For most of childhood, life follows a fairly clear path.
It’s like a train moving from station to station: kindergarten, elementary school, middle school, high school. Each stop is expected, structured, and supported.
Then the train arrives at a major station: high school graduation.
For the first time, the tracks ahead are not clearly laid out.
Some young men know where they’re headed next. But for many, the future feels uncertain. Questions begin to surface:
Where do I fit?
Will I make friends?
Am I ready to handle life on my own?
What if I don’t know what comes next?
For parents, this transition can feel just as unclear. The structure that guided your son for years begins to fall away, and what comes next isn’t always obvious.
A Different Kind of Preparation
This is exactly why we created the SOAR retreat.
SOAR is designed for young men who are standing at this transition point between high school and whatever comes next.
Rather than focusing only on logistics—applications, schedules, or plans—we focus on something equally important: confidence, connection, and readiness for the next stage of life.
Over several days, participants step into a small, supportive group of peers navigating similar questions. Through shared experiences like hiking, tubing, and preparing meals together, they begin to build confidence, responsibility, and connection.
Alongside these experiences, we guide conversations around questions many young men are quietly asking:
- Who am I becoming?
- What do I want my life to stand for?
- What might be getting in my way?
- Where do fear and insecurity show up?
- How do I build real connection instead of drifting toward isolation?
These conversations create space for participants to slow down, reflect, and speak honestly about what this next chapter brings.
One participant shared:
“The most impactful part was hearing others tell their stories and how safe it felt to tell my own.”
Supporting the Next Chapter
High school graduation is both an ending and a beginning. The train has arrived at a significant station, and the next tracks may not yet be clear.
SOAR offers young men a chance to pause at this moment, to build confidence, form meaningful connections, and begin stepping forward with greater clarity.
For parents, it’s a way to support your son not just in what he does next, but in how he steps into it.
Because while the path ahead may be uncertain, the ability to move forward with confidence, connection, and self-trust makes all the difference.
