A lot of great advice and perspective in this thread. I can relate a bit, as my college application story reminds me a bit of your situation (albeit from the “olden days” i.e. the late 80’s):
Graduated valedictorian of my high school class, but wound up with a rejection and 2 waitlists from an Ivy, Ivy + and a T50 university. Was devastated to wind up at my safety school, a large state university. Should i have applied to more schools, yes. Did I have any guidance from a CC or parents, no. My disappointment in myself was matched only by what I as disappointment from my family, friends and teachers. In hindsight, I’ll say the following:
-Other people, including my parents, weren’t disappointed IN me. They were disappointed FOR me, because I was unhappy with my outcome. I think what bothered me the most was that I felt like I worked really hard and then didn’t even have any options to choose from (I shouldered the blame for not applying to more schools, but it still stung)
-My 4 years at college were what I made of them. I walked on to an athletic team, which provided me with travel opportunities that were a highlight of my years there. I made life-long friends, met my future husband, studied hard, and had a blast.
-Graduating debt-free had a bigger impact on my life during the decade after college than I could have possibly imagined. I had a level of freedom and options that I wouldn’t have had if I was living under a crushing burden of debt.
I feel for you, and I suspect as time passes, your outlook will brighten. Now that you’ve put down your deposit, get yourself some swag and wear it with pride!
Wishing you the best!