I'm a HS sophomore and feel like I have nothing to look forward to in life

Hang in there. Everything you said is 100% normal. Remember you don't want peak in life during high school.

meatball? is that you?

in all seriousness this sounds like every high school sophomore that was a distance runner ever… don’t worry about it, just keep being yourself and embrace the positives while you work on what you can. you got it, just like hundreds before you

I'd say don't worry too much about what other people think, but make an effort to talk to more people and start more conversations. I know that can be hard but the more you do it the easier it gets and the better at it you get. Don't worry about being popular, the most genuine people Ive met usually haven't been "popular." Ive dealt with the same stuff too many.

Trying to run some fortnite???

Sounds like you need to get laid.

Thanks, that's a good point you got there.

Thanks, appreciate the encouragement

Work on your personality. Forget about being popular. That is just natural pecking order. Be your self and find friends who have similar interests. And the life doesn't even start in HS. You have a ton of time to find happiness.

Hey, I remember being a HS sophomore too! I know at this point it feels like your awkwardness will never go away but the truth is you're still super young and you have a lot of growing to do. Even the last 2 years of HS will help a lot. At some point around halfway through college things just kinda clicked for me, and it's been good since then.

You really have to practice social interactions though. Doesn't matter if you're awkward, you just gotta try and have conversations with as many people as you can. Try to spend a lot more time outside in some sort of social setting, doesn't really matter what you do. Talk with your teammates more, XC guys are usually all really nice and you have a built in conversation topic. Cut down big time on video games and don't doomscroll on TikTok or anything, that'll really rot your social skills. I also found I have a brighter personality when I'm not spending much time in front of a screen. Spend more time in nature. I wouldn't even worry about girls right now, if you're decently attractive once you get some real (not forced) confidence relationships will come naturally. Be truly interested in other people and people will be drawn to you. Also it goes without saying, but lay off the porn too, it'll make you extra awkward around women.

Thanks, not worrying too much about what others think of me has always kinda been a struggle of mine.

Good news, your best days are ahead of you.

Think about what you want to improve for yourself then make goals. Then day by day, put in effort to achieve those goals. Just like in running, this also works in life.

At the end of each day, you are a bit further from the life you don't want and a bit closer to life you want yours to be. Wish you all the best.

You are what, 15 or 16? You have your entire life in front of you.

You don't need a lot of friends. Just a few close ones.

Don't worry about what others think about you. There are 4 billion women on this planet.

Greg hit the nail on the head with this one. You’ll eventually fall out of touch with most of your high school after graduation. Enjoy their company while it lasts, but don’t feel like you need to jump through hoops to please them. There’s no need to lose sight of who you really are.

I’d also like to recommend you take a Public Speaking class at your local community college. It did wonders for me; I was fairly confident before taking it, but my confidence in social settings skyrocketed afterwards. It’ll take some effort on your part to attend class all semester (maybe take it during summer?), but I think it’s the fastest way to help you grow.

Everything you’re feeling is normal. It passes. You will find your path.

Agree with the others. This just sounds like 10th grade. It’s a weird time.
It *does* eventually get better, don’t worry. College can be awesome; you eventually find a crew that understands you and gets you. You feel ‘seen’ for the first time in a way.

One piece of advice: unless you plan on competing professionally, don’t make your life only about running. Find other interests and hobbies in addition to running. Practice going out, practice talking to people. Friendships are some of the most rewarding things you can acquire in life. And the art of talking to people/making friends/talking to dates is an art form that is learned through practice.

That’s typical for HS and it eventually goes waaay down in college.
You eventually realize that no one’s opinion really matters, only your own.

So much to look forward to dude, just crush it

I'm also a HS sophomore with the exact same thing. Dawg I 100% hear u and just know that there's a light on the other side. It's tough, we'll get beat down for a while, but fight through it. I was awkward socially too and started opening up more a bit socially and I feel better. Just be a good guy and nice and people will like you. I'm that way and I'm a 4 on a good day, I'm not funny, but I am awkward but I love my friends because they accept me for who I am. They know I'm a caring good guy. I'm starting to see the light. And ik u will too