Feeling Lost at 22? You’re Not Behind - You’re Human

Let’s say this out loud:

Feeling lost in your early 20s is not a personal flaw.

It’s a very normal response to a very overwhelming world.

I work with college seniors and recent graduates who are smart, capable, and motivated - and still quietly panicking about their careers.

They’re asking themselves:

• Why doesn’t anything feel right?

• What if I make the wrong career choice?

• Why does everyone else look so confident?

If that’s you, let me gently interrupt the narrative.

Why Feeling Lost in Your Early 20s Is So Common

You didn’t miss the memo - there wasn’t one.

Previous generations were often given:

• Clear career ladders

• Fewer choices

• A stronger sense of “this is just how it works”

Today’s college graduates and early-career professionals were handed:

• Infinite career options

• A volatile job market

• Messaging that says, “Do what you love, but also make money, and also don’t mess this up.”

Of course you’re overwhelmed.

Your nervous system is trying to make a high-stakes career decision without enough information - or support.

What Being “Lost” After College Actually Means

In my work as a career coach, feeling lost usually means:

• You haven’t had space to reflect on what you want

• You don’t trust your own decision-making yet

• You’re absorbing too many outside opinions

That’s not laziness.

That’s developmental.

Early adulthood is meant for experimenting, learning, and recalibrating - even though no one frames it that way.

For Parents Worried About a Lost College Graduate

If you’re a parent quietly worrying about your child’s uncertainty, here’s the reframe:

They don’t need fixing.

They need:

• Permission to explore career options

• Tools to think critically about work

• Confidence that one decision won’t ruin their future

Support at this stage helps prevent panic-driven career choices later.

What Career Coaching Looks Like at 22

This isn’t therapy.
It isn’t academic advising.
And it definitely isn’t a lecture.

Career coaching for college students and recent graduates focuses on:

• Clarifying values and strengths

• Reducing anxiety around career decisions

• Learning how to evaluate opportunities realistically

• Building confidence through action, not perfection

Most importantly, it helps young adults realize:

You are allowed to learn as you go.

You’re Not Late - You’re Early

If you’re 22 and unsure about your career, you’re not behind.

You’re at the beginning of a long relationship with work — and you’re allowed to approach it thoughtfully.

That’s not weakness.

That’s wisdom.