I'm 25 and feeling a bit lost in my career after taking a nontraditional path. I graduated from Rutgers in 2024 with degrees in Economics and Communication, but instead of jumping into a corporate job, I spent the last few years modeling in NYC. I've been signed with a major agency and have worked on various commercial and e-commerce projects for well-known brands, along with freelancing in content creation and styling. While I've had some amazing experiences, the work has been inconsistent, which has made me realize I want more stability in my career. Recently, I accepted a part-time job near my parents' house, but it's only two days a week and doesn't provide enough income for independence. I'm now actively applying for full-time positions in creative production, project coordination, and marketing, and I'm starting to feel the pressure of wanting a stable salary, a routine, and my own place. I can't shake the feeling that I'm behind compared to others my age who have established careers and their own apartments. Living at home adds to that feeling, even though I'm grateful for the support. Rationally, I know I've gained valuable experience and skills, and I'm even getting interviews, but emotionally, I keep questioning why I didn't start this journey sooner. I'm reaching out to see if anyone else has felt this way after spending their early 20s freelancing or pursuing unconventional paths. How did you transition into a more traditional career, and how long did it take before you felt established? I'm struggling to differentiate between wanting to make changes now and feeling like I've completely messed up my early 20s. Any insights from those who rebuilt their careers in their mid-to-late 20s would be greatly appreciated.