I'm 17 and I feel like I'll never have a girlfriend

I went through that stage in high school. I was always interested in girls, but was too shy to ask one out. I mostly just stared at them, hoping they'd get the hint. Apparently the vibe I was giving off was more of "I have an axe in my shed that I'd like to introduce you to." rather than "You're pretty. Would you go out with me?"

If I could go back and give myself advice it would be: don't put pressure on yourself. It isn't a race. If you don't have a girlfriend now, it doesn't mean you're an unlovable loser who will forever be a virgin, it just means you haven't found her yet. She's out there, probably feeling as shy and awkward as you are right now. Don't sweat it. Just be yourself. Also, don't stare at girls giving them the vibe that you want to invite them into your van in a dark alley. Don't do that. It really creeps them out.

I know what you mean and I don't do that, I try not to be creepy. I'm a senior now and things like prom and social events are shoved down my throat and I haven't been to any of those things. It makes me feel like I'm not normal and an outcast.

Do you have any idea how many lonely, awkward, single people there are in high school? A lot. It doesn't make you weird, you're just not experienced with interacting with girls. The more pressure you put on yourself to be flawless in dealing with girls, the more of a flustered, sweaty palmed wreck you'll become.

The way I got over it was I stopped trying to find a girlfriend, and started looking at all girls as "just one of the guys." I could joke around with them, talk to them, and feel comfortable around them because I wasn't trying to "find love." Doing that, girls got to know me, and some of them even liked me enough to want to date me. I'd have never had those opportunities if I kept hiding, hoping a girl would sense my desperation and pick me as her mate.

You just need confidence enough to meet girls and not start tripping over your tongue, sweating profusely, and looking like you just ate a hot pepper while having an aneurysm.

If talking to girls in person is too much pressure, there are billions of women on the internet you can e-mail, text or chat with. A lot of them are in your general area too. Makes it easier to start getting to know someone, so you don't feel so clumsy when you meet them.

I think I will stop trying to find a girlfriend for now. I've pretty much given up on finding one at my school because I'm going to graduate soon. I'm just a socially awkward person in general, I'm better at talking to guys than girls but I'm still pretty awkward. I don't really have any friends at all so I will hopefully make some new friends in the future and maybe that'll help me find a girlfriend.