I’m with publisher- the extra time (assuming the finances work) getting hands-on experience can make a disproportionate difference.
Are you going to a university? if so there will be a bigger range of ages than you might expect. As you will be going into your major (as a Junior?), you won’t have as many fresh-faced 18yo first years in your classes, and classes are a great place to start making friends (foxhole friendships develop very quickly). You will have a ready-made cohort of people who are genuinely interested in the same thing you are.
You are right that being that bit older/more mature will stand to you academically. I did my education in 4 goes (UG 1, UG 2, MA, PhD), with years between each one. It was easier each time- except for the finals part. Those were just as $&(## as ever.
I was going to say that this sentence made me sad, but decided instead to tell you to take yourself by the scruff of the neck and give yourself a metaphorical kick up the backside. What a waste of energy and heart! Ashamed that you have navigated a bunch of landmines in your path and are on track to get your degree in a field you like? or is it b/c your path doesn’t look like the typical script and it took you a little longer than some to get to this point? if so, save yourself a lot of heartache and get over the idea that you are the odd one out: most people have bumps in the road. Some people hide them better and some people have other people who will fish them out when the bumps hit, but sooner or later we all hit bumps. Be proud of yourself for making it through this far.