"The purpose of this study is to understand the process of school dropouts and the experiences after their dropouts through 'searching for my own life'. For this purpose, a total of 22 dropout youths were selected in accordance with the causes of school dropouts such as academic problems, school maladjustment, peer problems, and family problems. Qualitative research method based on the grounded theory was conducted to analyze the in-depth interview data. A total of 180 concepts, 37 sub-categories, 16 intermediate categories, 6 top categories were derived as the process of searching for their own life of the participants. The experience paradigm of the dropout youths was found as following: Core phenomena such as harsh reality of the society, precarious livelihood, lack in sense of belonging, and psychological anxiety; Causal conditions as triggered events such as illegal acts, lack of the number of school days, interpersonal conflicts with teachers and peers and academic maladjustment; Contextual conditions such as competitive school culture and the influence of home environments. In addition, 'social values such as education and economic status' and 'support system formation' and career maturity were showed acting as contextual conditions operating 'incessant attempts'. These interactions resulted in 'the search for my own life' as career choice meeting themselves and optimistic attitude toward life. The study results were discussed on the counseling and support system for the adaptation process after their school dropouts of the dropout youths."