I'm 23, I'm a guy, and I honestly don't know what the hell I'm doing with my life. The stupid part is that I don't even have a dramatic excuse. I got a girlfriend who is good to me, a family that isn't messed up, friends who actually answer my messages, a roof over my head, food, all that basic stuff people say should make you happy. And yeah, I know I'm lucky. I know some people would tell me to shut up and stop whining because I have more than enough. They're probably right, too. But knowing that doesn't magically fix the feeling that I'm stuck like some useless dude watching life go on without him. I studied IT because everyone said it was the smart move. Computers, coding, support, networks, whatever. Stable future, good money, easy to find jobs, bla bla bla. Except now I can't find a damn junior position in my area. Every "junior" job wants two years experience, five tools, three frameworks, a car, a personality, and probably a blood sacrifice too??? How the hell am I supposed to get experience if nobody lets me start???

I send applications, I tweak my CV, I write those fake polite cover letters where you pretend you're passionate about helping some random company make more money. Nothing. Or I get some automatic rejection that says they found a candidate "more aligned with the role", which basically means "not you, mate". I try to stay objective about it, because maybe my CV is average, maybe my portfolio sucks, maybe the market is just packed, maybe I didn't study the right exact thing. Fine. I can accept that. But then what??? Am I supposed to just keep applying forever and wait until some HR person blesses me with a low paid helpdesk job like it's a gift from god??? I don't want to become one of those bitter guys who sits around blaming everything on the world, but it's hard not to feel like the whole thing is kinda rigged. People tell you to study, so you study. Then they tell you to get experience, but nobody gives you the first chance. Then they say network, improve yourself, learn more, keep grinding. Bro, at what point do we admit this advice is just copy paste bullshit???

Lately I've been thinking about learning a manual job, like plumber or electrician. Not because I always dreamed about pipes or wires, let's be honest, but because it seems real. People need toilets fixed. People need electricity. A blocked sink doesn't care about LinkedIn. That sounds better than sitting at a desk begging for an interview that will go nowhere. But then I think, okay, what if everyone my age has the same idea??? What if all the IT guys, office guys, and lost guys like me jump into trades because "manual jobs are the future" and then that market gets flooded too??? Then what??? We all spend years retraining just to be told there are too many apprentice electricians now??? Sounds dumb, but it's not impossible. Everyone runs to the same thing once they hear it's stable. I don't want to make another "smart choice" that turns into a dead end. So yeah, I have a girlfriend, family, friends, and I still feel like I'm floating around uselessly. I'm not suicidal or anything, I'm not saying my life is over, I'm just tired of pretending I have a plan. I don't. I'm 23 and already feel late, which is probably stupid, but it feels real. What would you do in my place??? Keep chasing IT and maybe waste more time??? Switch to a trade and risk starting from zero??? Or just accept that nobody really knows shit and we all act confident because being honest sounds pathetic???

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