Don't fit into my age bracket?

LegacyUser

I'm 20years old and about to finish up in college. I know that's early but I didn't do transition year and then did an Arts degree which only takes 3 years. I was already one of the youngest people in my class at school and now I'm getting a degree very young.
The thing is, I don't feel very young. In fact I feel a lot older than my peers for the most part. Not only do I rarely attend parties, etc, but I've spent most of my student life working when I'm not in class. I feel like there's a huge age gap between me and the people around me. They're all talking about what they're going to do for the summer and I'm worrying about getting a professional career as soon as possible. I'm only 20years old, but I feel like I need to start working properly NOW. I need to start out on my own and be an adult.
I have a few friends in my age bracket, a handful of people in roughly the same boat but for the most part I just feel like an alien. I can't relate to other people in my year and I'm certainly not interested in any of the guys - they just seem so childish. I've tried seeing about two guys in my time in university but just felt like we were on different planets.
Am I a complete weirdo? Am I alienating myself by trying to jump into the adult world? Or is it alright for some people to do things this way? And what about dating? I'd like to be able to see guys but it's frustrating when you feel like you're talking to a child. In other words should I be worried or am I just an 'early bloomer', so to speak?

Also, I should probably say that there are several things that I do that are typical of someone my age. I refuse to let go of a number of childhood toys, I still watch 'childrens' films and I still have no idea what I want to do with myself.

I know how it is OP, my own "peer group" has always been minimum 3 years older, I wouldn't worry about it Don't fuss over trying to socialise with people your own age, just find the people you get on with! There's no big rule you have to hang around people your own age.

CK2010

I finished school at 17, had a baby the same year, and finished college at 20. im the same as you, im focused on work and minding the child and dont really go out for nights out, although i have hobbies and stuff. maybe start a class so you can find friends with similar interests as opposed to just being the same age. in my yoga class i chat with women in their forties and fifties but at work my friends are in their twenties to thirties. but its based on our interests and stuff, not our age group.

my boyfriend is my age but i think even if he was older id still feel like the more grown up one, i think most relationships are like this! one person is the 'kid' and the other is the 'nag'- we balance each other out! :pac:

no harm in being a bit 'ahead' as long as you dont let it get you down or you dont put unnecessary pressure on yourself to do so. if its a natural process as opposed to you growing up too fast then theres no need to worry.

IrishEyes19

CK2010 wrote: »

I finished school at 17, had a baby the same year, and finished college at 20. im the same as you, im focused on work and minding the child and dont really go out for nights out, although i have hobbies and stuff. maybe start a class so you can find friends with similar interests as opposed to just being the same age. in my yoga class i chat with women in their forties and fifties but at work my friends are in their twenties to thirties. but its based on our interests and stuff, not our age group.

my boyfriend is my age but i think even if he was older id still feel like the more grown up one, i think most relationships are like this! one person is the 'kid' and the other is the 'nag'- we balance each other out! :pac:

no harm in being a bit 'ahead' as long as you dont let it get you down or you dont put unnecessary pressure on yourself to do so. if its a natural process as opposed to you growing up too fast then theres no need to worry.

Great post here, shows everything is possible, and fair play CK2010, you must have had your work cut out for you.
Hey OP, you're not alone. I'm 20 also, and graduating this year from college. Most my best friends are the year older too, but age has nothing to do with it, maybe take a break now this summer, I know its important to work but try to get some days off and arrange something, doesnt have to be nighttime based around pubs and clubs, not everyones style, so maybe go for day trips to places, z00's, town theme parks, beaches, that sort of stuff.

Firetrap

Everyone is different and you've just got a quieter, more mature personality than most of your peers. They'll catch up at some stage. School/University is an unnatural bubble anyway in that you're mostly hanging around with people of your own age. When you get out into the real world, you'll start meeting people of different ages and you'll find your own level. After a while, age stops being relevant and you just see people as people.