Ask HN: How can I make the most out of high school?

I'm in high school. Soon, I will be in college. Before, I’ve focused mainly on studying and pursuing solitary passions, but not doing social activities. However, I now feel that I'm missing out on typical teenager life, and I'll have regrets when I'm an adult.

I just watched an anime following a group of close friends in a band as they pass through high school. I've seen people online state that the anime reminded them of their own high school lives, but it doesn't remind me of my current life at all; it's way too carefree and fun.

My online friends have told me that they don't have close friends either, so my life is normal.

Today, I saw this: https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/aanfmf/whats_a_very_common_thing_that_you_just_cannot/ecuao12. Granted, the person is saying that they don't relate to looking back on high school. However, the topic is about common things that one can’t relate to, and some repliers said that their own HS lives were carefree. Now, I again feel I am missing something.

I like programming, and I've become interested in type theory. I doubt that other people in my school care about this stuff.

I take art class, but it's a solitary activity between me and my teacher, not together with other students.

I don't know how to make close friends. I can talk to people, but I can't suddenly form a close relationship with somebody. Friendship can’t be forced; it develops naturally. Yet, I've never made a close, loyal friendship, only casual friendships.

Before, I've been looking forward to college so I can study my interests. Now, I feel afraid of ending high school.

Is it normal that I don't have close friends and that I'm solitary? Am I missing out on anything?

What hobbies do you advise me to adopt that I can do in a group, with camaraderie?

Will college be the same or different than high school? Can I have the same kind of youthful fun when I'm an adult?

Have fun, don't waste these years worrying about the future, you'll get plenty of time in the next 50/60 years to do that but you'll never get your youth back.

With most things in life, you get out what you put in. I remembered it was awkward for me, but I made efforts to hang out with friends. A lot of my friends didn't have the same interest as me at first, but there's always something in common that we share, may it be sports or food or movies or just plain hanging out. As you already know, friendship needs cultivating. Just like building a relationship. So, go have fun! Keep an open mind and hang out with people, you'll learn interesting things about them and build a long lasting friendship bond.

I hated high school (Dutch), with a passion. I felt restricted in what we were learning (set curriculum, almost no extracurricular possibilities), I disliked most people and it was posh (I'm not) and therefore had a bit of an overconfident air.

I had fun: I cheated, I skipped classes, my motto was "minimum effort, maximum freedom." I went out a lot in Amsterdam in order to get my social fix and a read on what it means to be social (long story short: if you don't like going out that much, go to places with more interesting music -- jazz, classical, opera, finger style guitar etc.)

For me the fix was obvious: travel in Europe and make friends. It was obvious because I had a huge hunger for doing whatever I wanted as opposed to other people dictating it to me (e.g. set curriculum in high school).

In the end those friendships were short-lived, all of them. But those friendship did give me the validation of that I mattered (and the insight that everyone matters really). When I look at Japanese high school animes, I think of the time where I felt lost in other countries, and gained some friends who showed me their world in all their wonderful idiosincratic ways.

I'm not saying you should travel. I hope that my story just gives some inspiration.

In your youth you can follow your desire, the older you get, the more you'll have to follow responsibilities.

this shits a run-on thought so be warned before you read it:

learn to skate, you'll have a quick mode of transport in urban/suburban areas, you get to meet some cool people, widens your music exposure. Chances are these skating kids have spare boards, ask if they can help you learn, most people are down to hang out a little after school and skate for a bit.

Seriously I was in a similar state, but skating helped me branch out to other groups of people, I ended up meeting cool people through it, and I now surf with one of the people I met through it. Plus whenever we are in SF i feel really comfortable street skating.

Be ready to fall, and thats part of the learning, and the balance acquisition. its a life long skill, but a gift that keeps on giving.

also don't take off the plastics that cover the ball bearings on the wheels, people say that they "help out" but it really trashes them, if anything get some Red Dragon Bearings and call it a day, they are super good besides ceramics. If you have the ability to get a board ($110 new) get something some Thomas Trucks, Enjoi Board, and some Spitfire wheels.