There Is No Right Timeline

By Tyler Madden, MSW Student

There are certain seasons of life when we begin to see so much change happening right before our eyes. From the world around us shifting to graduation photos, new jobs, and major milestones filling our social media feeds, it can almost feel inevitable for the question “What’s next?” to follow us everywhere we go. For some people, these periods of change may feel exciting and clear. For others, they can feel overwhelming, especially when it seems like everyone around you already has life figured out.

In moments like these, it can become easy to compare our own lives against the people around us, even when everyone is navigating their own path at a different pace. Whether it be a classmate who just landed a dream internship, a best friend who just got accepted into grad school, or a sibling or family member who seemed to have accomplished so much at your age. When you see the people around you appearing so successful and confident, it is easy to find yourself asking, “What am I doing?”

The truth is, a lot more people are feeling lost than we may realize. 

In a recent survey published by ECMC Group, researchers found that only 13% of Gen Z teenagers felt prepared to make decisions about their future. Likewise, when looking at recent college graduates, survey results from Inside Higher Ed found that 68% shared feelings of stress as they thought about and prepared for life after college. 

Even with knowing how common these feelings are, it can still feel incredibly isolating to question your future while it seems like everyone around you already has theirs figured out. For me, I can relate to this personally. There have been times in my own life, especially after graduating with my undergraduate degree in 2024, where I felt behind compared to the people around me. I questioned whether I was making the “right” choices or if I was falling short because my path looked different from someone else’s. That comparison can become exhausting, especially when it feels like there’s some invisible timeline everyone expects you to follow.

The truth is, there is no invisible or “right” timeline that we are supposed to follow. As the old familiar saying goes, “take the road less traveled.” With that in mind, take the time for yourself and focus on your own mental health. Seek out therapy or supportive services when you need them. Have conversations with the people around you. When we live with a constant fear of the future, whether that be fear of failure, rejection, or simply going down the “wrong” path, it becomes much harder to discover who we truly are and what journey is meant for us.

As I sit here today writing this blog piece for others to read and hopefully connect with, I know I would not be here without prioritizing my own mental health and taking the time to seek support in order to process my emotions and better understand who I am and what I am passionate about. 

While I still do not have every answer about my future, I have learned that life is not about having everything figured out all at once. Sometimes growth comes from allowing yourself the chance to slow down, reflect, and trust that your path will reveal itself over time. If you are in a season of uncertainty right now, I hope you give yourself grace and remember that your journey does not have to look like anyone else’s to still be meaningful.

If you or someone you know could benefit from support, education, or community resources, we encourage you to connect with NAMI KDK. You are not alone, and help is available.