I feel very uncomfortable around those my own age?

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I am 22 but I feel incredibly awkward and uncomfortable around peers in my age range, I only do well with those I have known since childhood or family, put me around new folks my age I will clam up. I am much more open and sociable with older people especially those my grandfathers age(he is 80). For some reason I look at older people as less judgmental or at least wiser due to age. I have had bad experiences with those my age in school, I was placed in a special education type private high school where a lot of the kids without autism who had either drug or behavioral issues felt they were king and took advantage of slower kids, these kids couldnt make it in their own school so they took advantage of those deemed weak. It is almost if I have PTSD with those my age. I don't like to party, I am even more uncomfortable with females my age more so than males. I was also raised by older parents, my mom was born in 1954, my father 1960, my grandfather who stays with us long-term for random weeks was born in 1932 is Korean war veteran, my uncle on my moms side was born in 1950 and is a Vietnam veteran. So basically I was brought up with a much older crowd.


I am also unemployed and have no higher education. Back in 2011, I visited a community college in New York City where I met a very nice nerdy professor in his late 50s/early 60s who was a computer programming professor/teacher, I told him that I had aspergers and he said many of them do. He was a very accepting and understanding man. I am back living in my upstate hometown, sometime this summer I may be able to have an apartment there (my dad works in the city and needs an apartment due to a long commute), so I may live there while he stays there on odd nights.

I am very nervous about computer programming, I am getting older and I want to find my career soon. When I am taught in the correct way, I learn things easily and well - if I am taught like an NT, I become flustered, nervous and unable to concentrate or learn.


Is anybody else in a similar predicament?

I also feel the same way. I'm not into the things that they are and my emotional and mental maturity is way off. I feel like a 9 year old and a Baby Boomer at the same time. I'm not about to change anything about me just to fit into their rugged NT world. I choose to hang out people who are at least 5 years older than myself who accept my older taste in fashion and music and my Kinky fashion sense. I'm not changing for anybody. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.