Question for guys who came out early in life (age 16 or younger)

To those of you who came out early: what is it like seeing more and more guys (especially those who you thought were straight) come out over the years as you progress into adulthood? In particular, how does it make you feel?

A bit of background:

• Back in high school, I was in a biology lab group with an obviously gay guy

• I'm the type no one suspects to like men, and didn't come out as bi until I was 22

• Eventually reconnected with the guy from high school (saw him on Grindr) and we start hanging out and being friendly

• He will occasionally lament about how things were back in high school, like how he was singled out for being the obvious gay kid, how he didn't want to come out but couldn't hide it, or how things would have been if he knew I liked guys, etc.

Long story short, I'm just picking up on a lot of different emotions from him.

I'm 25 and have never had a peer come out to me before (the gays I know were all out when I met them), so I'm just at a loss for how to empathize with what he's feeling. Which is why I'm asking you guys.