If you thought your teenage years were confusing, welcome to your twenties—where the confusion levels are turned up to max. This is the era where everyone around you seems to be on wildly different paths.

Take my own circle, for example. I graduated about nine months ago, moved abroad to live with my boyfriend, and decided to take a much-needed break before even stepping into the workforce (burnout before work even started? Thanks, university. Thanks, personal life). Meanwhile, one of my friends has been working for years and shares an apartment with roommates. Another is still studying and living with her parents (props to her because, honestly, the housing market is a nightmare). One friend is currently traveling to Antarctica, and planning to build out a campervan to travel Europe, and another is debating whether to jump into a career, travel, or just take a well-needed breather. Oh, and let’s not forget the one getting married this summer, while another is happily single and partying every weekend.

See what I mean? Literally anything is possible in your twenties. And while that’s exciting, it’s also kind of overwhelming. It makes you wonder: What’s the “right” path? Am I doing this whole life thing correctly?

But here’s the thing—there is no right or wrong path. Just look at my friends. They’re all doing completely different things, yet each one is navigating their own version of success, struggles, and self-discovery. There’s no universal timeline. No checklist you have to follow. Your twenties are meant to be a time of exploration, figuring out what works for you, and yes, making mistakes along the way.

I know it’s easier said than done, especially when expectations—whether from society, family, or even yourself—weigh you down, making it seem like you’re constantly playing catch-up. One of my closest friends used to wrestle with this exact feeling of falling “behind” in life. She took longer to finish high school and never made it to university, and for years, that felt like a failure to her. But guess what? She finally realized that university was never her path to happiness in the first place. Now, she works at a daycare and absolutely loves it. It took years of trial and error to get there, and that’s okay.

I spent five years in university only to realize that the field I studied might not even be what I want to work in. And honestly? That freaks me out. It feels like starting from scratch. But at the same time, it’s fine. We’re so young when we have to make these huge life decisions, and no one tells you how much you actually change in your twenties. Your interests shift. Your perspectives evolve. What you once wanted might not fit anymore. And that’s normal. We’re not meant to have it all figured out right now.

So, yes—your twenties can be confusing and full of uncertainty. But they’re also filled with opportunities, freedom, and room to grow. And if you’re struggling? That’s just proof that you’re in the middle of figuring things out—just like the rest of us.

What’s one thing you’ve learned (or unlearned) about life in your twenties so far? 💭✨