Hi there, I'm 46 and I have felt that way my whole life, too. Sounds to me like you're dad has some of his own issues to deal with. We should support our children, not tear them down. He is probably just parenting the same way he was parented without thinking about it, sadly. Try to realize that being who you are is OK and that you should be loved for that. You can't live up to your dad's expectations. I have known many people who have tried their whole lives and never found happiness. Love yourself.

Sometimes being "weird" is ok and even good. Steve Jobs was weird. I can't say it's worked in my favor money-wise. I have learned to be an observer of the world and of people in a way that others don't. I have accepted the fact that I am different and I don't expect people to understand. Learning to love myself has taken many years and lots of work. I hope that you are able to do that sooner. Find your passion. Accept and love yourself. Life is awfully short to try to spend it being something you're not. I love weird. It may be harder for you to "find your pack" (like wolves), but you will. I don't have a lot of friends either, but there are a few people out there that are special just like you are and they need you too. Take time to get to know yourself, your likes and dislikes, what your goals are. Try new things and explore life! You are unique and that is good!!

I'm sorry that your dad has said that to you--he should not have said that, as far as I'm concerned. Unfortunatly, we older people forget what it's like to be younger, and that people do change as they get older. I sometimes get that way with my 17 year old daughter--and my sis has to remind me that my daughter IS acting her age; we older people just want our kids to act OUR age (when we don't even act our age half the time).

Hi HelloWorld 18
It is not fair for you to being told by your dad only negative things; perhaps he wants to help you and he does not know how to do it better. Do you have somebody you trust or appreciate that could give you an honest and balanced feedback? I am sure you have positive features to highlight, however, if you are a bit of a disruptive or impulsive person (many of us can be like that, mostly when we are very young) that characteristic does not allow seeing the positive in you. It is not impossible to solve, it is about paying attention to yourself, reactions, etc. But, in any event, it may be that your dad is wrong, that is why I was asking if you have somebody that you trust and can give you an honest and balanced feedback. As other people said here, you are young and will be changing according you grow up, but, in any event, if you can, try to see this as an opportunity to know yourself better and explore alternatives, in case that a little modification in your behavior is needed. Sometimes, we do not realize and we bother others with our reactions and that produces people leaving as aside. Once, during college, a professor made a couple of observations about how I treated my classmates. As it was during an oral exam I was very upset and kept crying for days. Another professor in the tribunal of the oral exam was upset, too, and he and the other professor had a kind of a fight for me. My mom wanted to protest before the ministry of education, as the admonishment was very painful to me. After all the pain passed, I started to think about what the professor had said, leaving apart the circumstances and the ways of the professor. At the end of the day, I understood she was not totally wrong. I was sometimes cocky or patronizing, and this may have been my way to compensate for my disability. To some people, that characteristic of mine could be damaging, hurting their own self-esteem. Then, I started to pay more attention to my behavior, making sure to be careful how to express my ideas, giving room for others to express themselves, as well, etc. Hope I changed for good. But, again, in the beginning I took the criticism in a bad way, the professor had chosen a bad moment and gave me an unwanted feedback in a bad manner, but, anyway, she was right at certain extent. It took me some time, but I finally saw this criticism as an opportunity to improve myself and I believe it was for good. I wish you the best, and please, keep posting!