Aww everyone enjoys praise and whats wrong with wanting attention? You sound like great person to me..I dont think you sound strange at all, in fact, you express yourself very well and seem quite nice.

Everyone has their things..its just some people hide it "better" than others. Canders is sooo right about everyone wearing a mask. Dont assume the "popular" people have anything over you except confidence..I learned now, at almost 40, after having no confidence in social situations my whole life,that most people are pretty much dorks just like I am..if you "fake" cofidence for a while, people will believe it...and then you get real confidence. You seem very bright- the age old Brady Bunch advice is so right, just be yourself... And dont worry about what "people" think of you. Not everyone has to like you...Not sure why your parents say that youre self centered. You really dont seem self centered/narcissistic at all..maybe youre just deep (or anxious) and you spend more time thinking/talking about how youre feeling or trying to make yourself feel better.
I had very few friends in middle and high school but then made tons of friends in college...Once you get out of high school everything changes...