<p>I am in your shoes, and I can tell you that it doesn’t matter at all! I had a lot of problems growing up that caused me to drop out of high school at 16. I spent a few years in the “real world” going nowhere, then got my act together, got my GED, started at community college, and now I’m about to graduate from a good school with a whole new future ahead of me. I was 21 when I started and I’ll be 25 when I graduate. NOBODY has ever cared about my age or my background. I can’t even remember anybody ever asking about it! If somebody’s giving you a hard time, then they’re not your real friends anyway. You didn’t ruin your life, in fact you’ve done just the opposite. You’ve given yourself a huge opportunity in life. Congratulations! :-)</p>