I didn't realise my piper cub was mythical, but when I went to look it was still in the hangar where I thought I left it. I don't own a GPS except for the one in the PLB, so I do work with a map and compass. Sure, I've been somewhat lost (the polite euphumism is "uncertain of my position") a few times but always managed to get unlost, usually by all the boring ways that went out of date with the invention of the VOR, sometimes with the help of a QDM or two.
Most controllers of all sorts are pretty keen to help, if you sing out early, before charging through their instrument approach pattern.
To get back to the poster's original point, it's about proper preflight planning preventing piss poor performance. Spend all the time you need to plan on the ground, a lot of planning can be done days before going flying. Once you have your ppl you can invite a more experienced pilot to come along (just make sure to agree who is P1 before you start the engine
) and confirm your nav a few times, he/she can just concentrate on keeping a running position check going and doesn't need to speak up unless you ask for help. Practice really does make perfect, ask your instructor!
As to what you squawk, that is up to your perception of how serious the situation is. It could warrant a mayday call and appropriate transponder code (assuming you have one, I don't) but I suspect that unless there were aggravating factors such as low fuel state or deteriorating weather that might be overkill. A simple pan call would probably be more appropriate in most cases. Get your instructor to show you how the system works with a practice pan, it really does give you confidence that the day you need it, it will work.
PS Handheld GPS is a cheap backup if you want one, but please please please learn to use it on the ground first, not once you are lost, head down in the cockpit reading the manual
Sorry, didn't see you actually had your licence. You can still talk to your instructor though.......