you know, i dont even think i cared what other people thought when i was younger...
but i do know that i dont want to be in my 20's again. its a hard time - you think you know everything but are afraid to try anything. no money, a set of expectations and a path you think you are supposed to follow... but dont have a compass.
my brother got the best advice from someone which was, get a good education but dont plan on having a "real" job until you are at least 27. he took the advice, did a lot of in-country study programs and got a good education, saw the world (for the first time), made some great friends, did some stupid things, ended up at my door, broke - a couple of times - and now is living large.
the best was when he quit his by-the-hour-job in the fall and went and lived in Telluride working the ski season and living in a house with a bunch of people. he had a great time.
this is your life BB, sit down and figure out your biggest dream and then go and do it. the world is big and life is wide, you can do anything you want to.
if you dont like your area of the country, go west young man. freaks and nerds and weirdos roam the streets from seattle to portland, to san fran, and on down the line. no one will even think twice about you except to say, wow that guy has great hair.
;-)
and guess who also never fit it? ha! and no i havent thought about any of those people in years. and i still dont care what they think. whatever validation you think you need from someone else probably wont happen - so give it to yourself. now listen to your Auntie OFG, she knows what she is taking about. plus, we think you are the beez knees.
and 
for the predator!! Back off, chum!
