You are applying your values to his life. You're of course welcome to do so, just realise that he has no obligation or reason to accept your judgement. It sounds like you do accept that which is great.

To me it is not sad that he has chosen to figure out what his own goals are and find a way to meet them. To you it is sad. Both those things are ok.

If you were to try to tell me that it is not ok for someone to figure out what their own goals are then I would have a problem with that.