The Chaos of Being an Almost-Graduating, Unemployed 23 years old

There’s a strange, in-between stage in life where you’re not quite a student anymore, but not really an adult with a stable job either. It’s that phase where graduation is looming, everyone keeps asking about your “plans,” and your bank account is just a sad little number laughing at your life choices.

Welcome to the “Almost Mid-20s Crisis.” If you’re like me, an almost-graduating, unemployed student, you probably know exactly what I’m talking about.

The Pressure of “What’s Next?”

One of the worst parts about this stage is the constant questioning from family, friends, and even distant relatives you haven’t spoken to in years

• “So, what’s next after graduation?”

• “Did you find a job yet?”

• “Are you planning to do a master’s?”

• “Have you thought about your five-year plan?”

Meanwhile, I’m just trying to figure out what to eat for dinner without spending all my money.

The truth is, not everyone has life figured out by 22 or 23. Some people land their dream jobs right away, and others (like me) are still staring at job application forms wondering if “excellent communication skills” means I should start a podcast about my existential crisis.

I’m studying International Relations and Development, which sounds impressive until I try to apply for a job. The reality is, my field is broad, so broad that I don’t even know where I properly fit in the job market.

If I want to work in communications, I have to compete with Communication Arts or Journalism students who have spent years mastering media strategies and content creation. If I want to work in policy or development, I’m up against political science grads and people with master’s degrees. If I want to work in human rights and NGOs, most positions require experience, experience that’s hard to get when every internship is unpaid and expects you to survive on “passion” alone.

The Fear of Being Left Behind

Scrolling through LinkedIn is basically self-torture at this point. Every day, I see former classmates posting things like, “Excited to announce I’ve accepted a position at [Fancy Company]!” Meanwhile, I’m excited to announce that I finally learned how to survive another day of being unemployed.

It’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind, especially when society makes it seem like success has a timeline:

• Graduate at 22

• Get a job immediately

• Be financially stable by 26

• Get married by 30

But the reality is, life doesn’t work that way for everyone. And that’s okay.

The Struggle of Job Hunting

Job applications feel like sending love letters into the void. You craft the perfect resume, write a heartfelt cover letter, and hit “submit,” only to hear… nothing. If you’re lucky, you’ll get a polite rejection email. If you’re unlucky, you’ll be ghosted like a bad date.

And don’t even get me started on the unrealistic job requirements. Some entry-level jobs want five years of experience. How? I was busy trying to pass exams and survive university. Did they expect me to be a CEO at 18?

It’s Okay to Be Lost

Here’s what I’ve realized: being lost is part of the journey. No one really has everything figured out, even if they pretend to. Some of the most successful people today didn’t have a clear path in their early 20s, and that’s proof that it’s okay to take time to explore, fail, and try again.

So, if you’re in the same boat as me, confused, unemployed, and slightly panicking, just remember:

• Your timeline is your own. Stop comparing.

• Rejections don’t define you. Keep trying.

• It’s okay to not know everything yet. You’re still growing.

For now, let’s take it one step at a time. And maybe, just maybe, one day we’ll look back and laugh at how lost we once felt.

Wish me luck for landing a job in Thailand!!!