<p>IMO I’d look for a different word than “ruined” … something like “amazing” … you saved your life with your turnaround. You can’t change the past so don’t worry about the implications of the lost years … look forward and do your best. No one will really care how old you are or compare you to your HS cohort group. I have a pretty good job in the corporate world and one guy a level above me is 15 years younger and a guy a level below me is 10 years older … and we all have interesting (sometimes) fun jobs. Everyone’s life is a journey and we all take very different paths through our lives … be self-aware, keep learning, keep seeking … and you’ll have a interesting life; your life … noone elses.</p>