that1guy said:
I am that1guy and I am new to this site,
Welcome to the site, it's a great place and has helped me through some difficult things. I'm Brian, 22 so probably a bit older than you, but not by much.
that1guy said:
I feel like a failure. Throughout all of my years (I am a senior) I have not played sports,
I never touched sports, either. Frankly I don't think I was ever really welcomed in to that crowd anyway. It's really pretty inconsequential, in my opinion...unless you like one of those sports, there's no reason to be involved. But I can relate to the feeling of being left out.
that1guy said:
went to 1 dance, but I was pretty much by myself the whole time
I've been there before, too. I went to exactly one school dance in highschool and was definitely alone. I cried my eyes out, that night...I think I became a bit more aware of my status as a loner, at that point. I thought a girl was going to meet me there, but we never spoke about it face to face beforehand so I cannot say whether or not I got stood up. She was a good friend of mine in elementary school.
that1guy said:
Me neither. I still don't. So don't feel too bad.
that1guy said:
and never was really part of the popular crowd and actually come to think of it I am kind of an outsider.
Those people are overrated. And, a bit of a spoiler, most of them find out that real life is an equalizer when it comes to social status and that their parents disposable income doesn't really make them cool anymore.
that1guy said:
I try to get along with people but alot of them, especially girls seem to think I am weird or something.
Been there too. Anything outside the social norm in the way of dress or interests makes you an alien.
that1guy said:
I also feel that because of my bad social life that I have missed out on so much stuff.
Pal, I've been feeling that way for a while too since I put a couple of years between me and 'that chapter' of my life (I feel a bit old saying that). I don't recall if I ever looked through that lens at an earlier age like you are. I find certain things make me reminisce, in a regretful sort of way. Certain songs or movies on the subject of love, or highschool-age feelings and experiences, especially ones made when I was in my late teens; they stir great feelings of regret, like I only led half of a life until adulthood, and like I'm crippled now for it, weighed down by some great anchor in these aspects of life. Songs like Ocean Avenue by Yellowcard, or movies like Napoleon Dynamite to which I can relate in a way. They bring a dark nostalgia for something I never had in to my thoughts.
I don't know how to fix that. But I can tell you you will find success in life if you perform diligently, maturely and reliably, and with enthusiasm. Even though I have a GED, I'm attending college. I've been working on a career as a firefighter with success (though my entire crew was recently laid off); and I've been considering branching in to other things that are definitely not the realm of people who are failures. If you do as I've described, you will also find success.
Dealing with the rest is up to you. I will tell you I've dealt with these feelings by being a bit bitter and very judgmental of my peers who I do not think highly of.
Very judgmental. I've been called jaded and occasionally an *******, but I also have the mutual respect of those who are worth having respect from, because I show it to them and they know it's worth something.
Work hard, pal. And we're always here to support you, because at the end of the day we all back eachother up here, even if it is only words on the internet.