I’d recommend looking at yourself with honesty and truth; it CAN and WILL hurt a bit depending on who and “how” you are if that makes sense, but only by understanding yourself with honesty and truth can you get a grip on how much is the socializing issue a “you” problem or a “them” problem, and more…

Sometimes, it’s not your worth, but theirs; respect yourself and the effort you put into your life; the love you offer yourself can be a incredible tool and weapon in handling these kinds of problems when it comes to endurance and capability to understand where you land in all of it.

You have values that make you worth it, whether their easy or hard to see, have the patience for them to show, sometimes you need another who understands to help them gleam, reveal to the surface.

As for “best years of your life” concern, I’ll tell you now, that depends on what you decide to do and try to interact with, you can interact online with fields that interest you, go to events that follow your interests, there’s a lot life can offer when you go looking; that phrase usually comes from the fact of how easy these events come to you in school and how everyone is growing at that age to where the demographic of people matches easily…simply don’t worry too much about matching ages and interests sometimes, remember that people can “match” with and without similarities sometimes, some of the best relationships can exist on both sides, so don’t let it feel too restrictive.

As for the reality worries, I’d use resources in your college/workplace or any you find online(although considering I’m responding 8 months later, may be too late for the first option), lean on others close to you for advice, unfortunately, I myself don’t have much to offer in this field, the best I could say is that things WILL fall into place, so trust the process, and yourself in the work you can do to slowly make the right and better decisions, and that the process won’t be easy, but you’ll find yourself in the right place with time; this life offers some mercies, you’d be surprised from where.

As for your history making you skimp out on growth, trust me, you’d be amazed with how fast one can learns from anything and everything, be it from others, yourself, even to the environment, who you are will reveal truths around you that “sync” with who you are faster than you’d realize, and for the ones that don’t, that’s simply your choice if you decide to learn…I’d recommend you do with the free time you choose to use for it, but all of this must come at “your” pace, don’t force it.

Apologies if some of this comes off confusing or “spiritual” if that’s not your cup of tea, all I can say is that there is some grounded reality in it and how it can really help someone like you out; in any case, good luck with everything, here if you need more advice/guidance, don’t be ashamed to ask for help, one of the worse things of our generation is that we’re forgetting to initiate, be it in asking for help, socializing, and a lot more, unless your surrounded by people close to you and ‘invested’ in your wellbeing, only you will know when you need help…maybe too late if you don’t judge it well enough.

Be safe, be careful, and love, trust yourself.

Wouldn’t mind trying to be your friend either.

Have a good day/night wherever you are.

While reading your opening post, I found myself thinking about my life as well. Presently no close friends. Only my wife and daughter tolerate living with me. I have had best friends that later in life turned out to be nothing more than acquaintances. One such friend, who I contacted after years of not hearing from, put out word to his friends that those who wish to stay in contact with him to let him know. Well, I did, and he shut me out. Changed his phone number. Dropped/Closed his Facebook. Basically hid himself from me. Well, it shows what kind of person he is. I have another friend who moved away. Went to a different school. We use to play basketball in the park as kids. I was never any good and we almost always lost because of me. He wasn’t happy about that. Well, after years, he found me on Facebook. Reached out to me. And said that I changed his life for the better. As kids, we went to the boys club of america. There they had tests for scholarships. I took the tests and insisted he also take the tests. He did well and got into a good school (moved away) where he met his high school sweetheart and married her. Guess he is happy. He said he wouldn’t have taken those tests if I had not insisted. He found me and thanked me. I told him that was all his own choice. Never thought he would come to find me. Goes to show that sometimes there are bad people and sometimes there are good people. Some only think about themselves and others care about their friends. Sorry, didn’t mean to make this about me. But, I did. Sorry. My only words of advice is to keep trying. Never know what you will find. Best wishes.