I would need more info on #1. What do you do when you meet people. Why do you think it doesn't seem to work out? I find being an immigrant to be an advantage when it comes to friends since I have friends from my native group and I am more interesting (unique) to my american friends. Now that I think about it, most of my close friends are first or second generation immigrants. But I probably find them more interesting anyway. 2 Less desirable in what way? To women? Well yeah, you seem to have a dearth of confidence and girls arent going to notice you as much if you dont even think you're worth their attention. 3 When I was your age I would have never applied to a fast food job, let alone 4 times. That's some very impressive resilience and persistence! I have a pretty severe stutter a lot of the time so I dont think I could get a fast food job, but I have been able to get a professional job (business) and other less mass customer service focused jobs. Don't psych yourself out, especially if you're planning on graduating with an engineering degree. That's an impressive and useful degree! (stupid auto indent formatting) A big theme seems to be that you've tried some things in the past, they haven't worked out and now everything from your relationships, to girls, to your career is in doubt and you're wondering if you should just accept some pre-imagined failure. You're not a static person. The past does not equal your future. I think you know the right things you need to do. If you dont seem to be getting the results you want, I think a change of approach, not a change of goal is what you need. It sounds like you are be trying hard and pushing yourself, but if you're doing things that don't work (because you don't know better or you feel desperate), you're not going to get the results you want. I dont have enough detail to be specific, but switch up your approach. Try making friends in other ways (sports, clubs, even videogames or something). Change your approach when you talk to girls. Maybe try being more direct. Or telling yourself in advance that you aren't going to date her to take the pressure off and see if you can make a friend of a girl first. Skip the fast food jobs, go to business events at your university. Do mock interviews, apply for internships. That's where you want to be anyway, not cooking burgers with an engineering degree. If you want a job in the meantime while you're in school (a great idea), try an electronics store or retail. Just don't keep pushing up against the same wall expecting to move it.