Just 21 and already lost! Why this story feels so relatable 

A 21-year-old youth has captured the internet’s attention with a raw and emotional Reddit post about failure, regret, and the desperate search for a fresh start. His confession, shared on a popular subreddit, has since turned into a digital lifeline of encouragement from strangers.

“I Failed. And I Lied to Survive.”

The young man revealed he spent the last three years preparing for a competitive exam after finishing school in 2022 with 86%. Despite his efforts, he couldn’t clear the exam.

 “All I have is a 12th-pass certificate and a fake life I built to avoid judgment. Only my parents know the truth; even they’re too ashamed to tell anyone,” he wrote.

He admitted to lying to relatives, who still believe he is in college. Meanwhile, his peers are planning master’s degrees. “Every casual question about my future feels like I’m suffocating,” he confessed.

Three years gone. No degree. No direction. Just pain, regret, and a fake life I built to avoid judgment."
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Dreams on Hold, But Not Lost

Though accepted into a private BTech programme in Bioinformatics, the Rs 5 lakh annual fee is far beyond his family’s means. With two younger siblings still in school, he doesn’t want to burden his parents.

He shared a list of career ideas from law to content creation but admitted feeling “completely lost.” 

“Some nights, I just want to create something and be free. But I don’t know who I am anymore.”

“I Just Want a Direction”

The man expressed his desire to move to a metro city, work part-time, and start over. “I don’t care how hard it is. I just want someone to show me a direction.”
Reddit users flooded the comments with empathy and advice. “I was in your shoes at 21. Today I’m a teacher. Keep moving,” one wrote. Others suggested open universities, part-time jobs, and education loans.

A Community Rallies Behind Him

What began as a cry for help has evolved into a digital support group. Strangers are now rooting for a young man ready to rise from rock bottom and rebuild his life.