What changes made your social life more interesting?

I never had many friends in high school. I probably had one real close friend during those years. I lived in a home environment that made having friends really difficult, and once high school came everything changed and I wasn’t really prepared. When most of my peers were dating and going to parties, I was working hard to get good grades.

College has been a little better, but not much. I still haven’t dated. I still have never been invited to an actual “party” I’m a little more confident socially. College is different than high school, and most “friends” you make seem to already have their own clique from childhood they actually spend the majority of their time with. That or they have a huge, supportive family to fall back on. I don’t have any of that stuff, and it feels kinda alienating sometimes.

With my college years winding down, and me about to start a new job here in January, I’m afraid that I’ve lost all social opportunities in my youth, and now for the next 30-40 years will be stuck in the corporate 9-5 monotony and pretentious office politics. Ofc I know I don’t have to stay at the same place forever, but I’m getting to the age where most people are pigeonholed.

I guess I’m directing this question at those who struggled for years like me with not having much of a social life but managed to turn things around significantly as an adult. What happened? Was it a new job? A social club? Any advice is appreciated.