When everyone at work seemed more adult than me

A coworker came to me with an important question, trusting me to make the decision. I answered calmly, but inside I kept thinking, “Why are they asking me? I’m still figuring out how to be an adult.” The strange part was that I handled the situation well. I met deadlines, supported my team, and carried real responsibilities, yet I still felt like everyone else had received instructions for adulthood that I had somehow missed. Learning that I’m autistic helped me understand that feeling differently. Maybe I wasn’t immature—I just didn’t match the confident picture of adulthood I had created in my mind. Now I try to measure myself by how I handle my responsibilities, not by how grown-up I feel.