["Looking back at my older self I've come a long way.  It's pretty amazing really, I was such a bum now I'm a real man, living on my own self-employed with my own car paying my own bills. Like waking up from a nightmare haha"]
Sometimes it can be difficult to get your footing when starting out. It sounds like you enjoy your life now and have something to be proud of.
I'm pretty amazed at how far I've come in life.  I was such a bum now I'm a real man, living on my own self-employed with my own car paying my own bills