Did you feel lost in your early 20's?

[Anonymous]

I'm a 23F and recently graduated architecture school. The path ahead of me seems simple: become a junior architect then senior architect and finally a principal architect. But WHY do I feel so lost? Does this feeling of being so unsure about everything go away?

[SecretsofKB]

So for me, at 23, I was a new grad nurse in the middle of the initial COVID outbreak. I never felt "lost" but definitely nervous and unsure of my career and future.

Now, in my later 20's, I'm still a nurse but in graduate school for another nursing specialty. I'm still unsure about my career and future with it. I'm not sure this is the direction I want to go.

It's not a feeling of lost, but more unsure. My advice, focus on your personal life. If that's in order, career focus becomes easier, or at least not as pressing as it feels now.

[Asker]

Thank you for the advice and sharing your experience! I hope everything works out

[Saiesh30]

That feeling is usually there as a result of us not being confident of ourselves that we'd succeed. It is also there, when we're not doing something in life which we're not passionate about.
We often think about a lot of 'what ifs' example what if we don't make it, what if I fail etc. Then we start to build on that doubt and start feeling lost.
Also, we tend to build on doubts when there's a lot on our plate. Like I get that feeling because there's so much to do and I feel I'm lagging.
So it's only normal to feel lost but the key is not doubting in your abilities and being consistent.

[Anonymous]

It kind of depends what you mean by lost. I'd say I questioned my life and my place in it till I was about 40. We look at life as some kind of dragon that needs to be slayed. We compare ourselves to our peers and constantly question whether we're measuring up. Whether we're ahead, whether we're falling behind. Your 40's are your prime income earning years generally. And most people are established by then.

[Asker]

I guess its the pressure to succeed early on in life. I live in a country where almost everyone has a degree (extremely low income to anything above). There are so many people who excel and earn so much at ages 28 above and honestly that's very rare in my field. Men have to marry by 30 and woman by 25 and so you have to do UG, PG and work by then. There is no use comparing journeys though. Thank you for you insight!

[Opinion Owner]

Np. Let me tell you one thing life has taught me. All those milestones you mentioned? They don't mean ANYTHING! What happens if you marry the "right" petson by 25 or 30 and it all falls apart on you. Oryou land your dream job only to lose it a year later to and economic downturn.
Life has taught me is all a person can do is stay in fight to improve themselves every day and try not to get discouraged. Because life is a journey not a destination. At 26 I was flat broke. In my late 40's I have a high 6 figure net worth. Still 3 years. Ago a medical incident I had cost me my employment with a firm of 23 years. After a couple years. Of trying to get my bearings I landed my dream career.
All I'm saying is sometimes the bad times are actually preparing you for something much greater. So just stay I n the fight and remain positive, you'll get there. And sometimes "getting there" isn't always what you imagined. But that doesn't necessarily make it bad. Because as I said life is a journey not a destination. Try to enjoy the ride. And recognize the beauty, even in the bad times. 👍🙂 Good Luck!

[LemiaOfThunder]

Nope