2 Interestingly , ideas about the stages of life are changing. 3 In previous times, people didn't have a solid idea of childhood as being separate from adulthood . A hundred years ago, no one thought of adolescence . Until recently it was understood as a norm that their induction to adulthood was completed as soon as they graduated from college . They would now find a sensible job which would lead to a career . Then during this career they would start a family, ideally before they turned 30. 4 Today we have an equivalent need to recognize a new phase of life that comes after high school graduation , continues through college , and then leads to starting a family and having a career , the so - called odyssey years. Recent trends show radical changes as young people are following a different agenda . They take breaks from school, live with friends and often return to living with their parents . Similarly , they fall in and out of love , quit one job and try another or even shift to a new career . So, we need to recognize this new stage , the odyssey years, which many now consider to be an unavoidable stage in reaching adulthood . 5 People who were born prior to the 60 s or 70 s in the last century tended to frame their concept of adulthood based upon achieving certain accomplishments : moving away from home, becoming financially independent , finding the right spouse and starting a family. But that emphasis on stability did not remain static . Today , young people are unlikely to do the same. During the odyssey years, a high proportion of young people are delaying marriage , child bearing , and even employment .