Dear Sunderland~
I'm glad you came here, it's a place where you can get the thoughts and experiences of others, and they go way beyond school/uni.
Yes some peole do have privilege, and some of them realize the fact and take advantage of it. However many take it for granted and fritter away the chances. Being handed life on a platter can make for shallow people. No good pointing this out to them even if you are tempted to do so. After all until you have faced adversity you really have not seen all of life - or learned how to deal with it.
It sounds like your friends have small horizons, maybe school/uni is all they know so it is all they talk about, and I'd not be surprised if there was an element of competition there.
You on the other hand have not had it so easy, between the breakup of your family (a huge thing in a person's life) and having to leave school early. Then those job knock-backs. That would give you a lot to talk about in the right circumstances.
Finding common ground is difficult, not only becuse of their preoccupations but also becuse they a different sort of person, as I'd tried to point out.
I doubt very much if your circumstances will remain as they are, it only takes one chance -and you are just the sort of person who will value it. As well the future may hold opportunities for more education if that's what you'd like.
At the moment I'd guess that getting a job is the hard thing, and true, it is not easy. In fact I sympathise with and admire those that keep plugging away despite knock-backs or what's worse, no response at all.
Sometimes I found that volunteering lead to jobs, is that something you've thought of?
While you are coping with all this do you have anybody to keep your spirits up? A family member or one of your friends perhaps? Just having somebody sensitive and cheerful to be with can make a big difference.
So can doing things you enjoy, anything from sport to books - you'd know best. Doing something you enjoy on a daily basis realy does have positive effect.
I hope to hear from you again, after all we are here for you
Croix