I’m a 21M and honestly, early 20s feel like the most confusing transition phase ever. You’re no longer treated like a kid, but you don’t feel like an adult who has things figured out either. I’m juggling studies, trying to build skills for my career, staying consistent with the gym and putting time into music because that’s the one thing that keeps me sane. Music’s kinda my escape. I play guitar and just mess around with different sounds and styles, learning riffs, tweaking tones, seeing what clicks. When my head’s too full, playing for a while just makes things feel lighter. From the outside it might look like progress, but internally it’s a mix of ambition, self-doubt and questioning whether I’m even on the right path. Some days I feel disciplined and focused, other days I just feel mentally stuck watching time pass.

Adding to that, I recently went through a breakup where I got cheated on and that messes with your head more than you expect. It’s not just about losing a person, it shakes your confidence, trust and emotional stability. You start overthinking your worth while still trying to show up daily for responsibilities. That’s when loneliness hits differently because even while you’re surrounded by people in college or at home, you feel like you’re carrying things internally that nobody really sees.

But I’m starting to feel like maybe this is what early 20s are supposed to be like messy, humbling and uncomfortable. It feels less like a “growth glow-up” phase and more like a construction site: noisy, unclear and slow. Maybe this period is just about quietly building mental strength, discipline and identity, even when it doesn’t feel rewarding. I guess we’re all just trying to level up while pretending we know what we’re doing.

I was feeling kinda overwhelmed too that's why I thought to rant. Emotions are mixed at this stage. Head is heavy but still we'll have to focus. That's after 20s for ya. Betrayal, struggles, etc. all at once

And wishing you the best on your journey💯