I really enjoyed your story. It has meaning. Well done.

The wave metaphore is a good one.
Most people are going through big changes at eighteen, whether its university or your first job. Its understandable to feel worried about that. Just because things are rough now it doesn't mean they always will be. If one plan or ambition doesn't work out then another one might. The pandemic is making things hard now, but sooner or later society will come to terms with it. it may not be easy but if people couldn't get past crisis our species would've gone extinct long before now.

There was a recession when I was a teenager. Sometimes it seemed it would never end but it did. I was unemployed for a time but I found a good job, even though it took me years.

I really feel this right now. Good job putting it into words. The boat analogy made a strong mental image.

this hits me but not terribly deep