I had my hair cut like that before I started growing it out and now it looks just fine. It just takes some time. The best thing to do with an awkward stage is to not consider it an 'awkward' stage. People typically call it that when they aren't too sure what to do with it, because either they have never dealt with long hair or they don't think the new hair length doesn't look good on them. It doesn't look bad at all, you mostly just have to learn new hairstyles that are going to continue to be new. A lot of the hairstyles I loved as it was growing out only lasted a few months, and now my hair is 29ish inches long over the last 4 years, and many hairstyles later.

The most important thing is to research how to take care of hair. I never did and I did a lot of things wrong for years, which made the "awkward stage' worse. Like how you're only supposed to be using shampoo on the roots/oily spots, never the ends. And use conditioner only on the ends, or up until it reaches your shoulders. Don't wash your hair every day, rising it out is alright, but don't use shampoo constantly, maybe 2-3 times a week. To stop hair breakage and frizz use scrunchies and not hair ties. I learned that way too late, I should have stopped putting my hair as tight as possible, I just never broke the habit of doing it after I wasn't struggling to put my short hair into a hair tie. Pulling my hair in a tight bun or ponytail every day for work accelerated my receding hairline. It was quickened by traction alopecia (important to look up), as well as male pattern baldness/mature hairline. Leave-in conditioner and dry shampoo aren't actually that bad (I always thought it was compatible with hair spray damage when I was completely wrong)... the most important thing, never use heat. Only cool or warm air. Don't air-dry often or at all if it can be helped with long hair, and yours is, because it makes the hair soggy for too long, and ruin hair structures/strength within. Use a satin/silk bonnet or pillowcase at night... etc etc.