You need to find a way to give yourself enough space to find something to pursue. That can be very difficult depending on your situation. It doesn't help, I f

You need to find a way to give yourself enough space to find something to pursue. That can be very difficult depending on your situation. It doesn't help, I find, that distraction is easier and easier to fall into in this day and age. Skipping grades doesn't really matter, I think. You need to do your best to dedicate yourself to a path. If the potential is about financial success, you are just going to have to study and interview until you get a higher paying job. I say this because I am in a similar boat in terms of feeling like my life has been wasted (in this case by me) and, yes, it sucks. Do keep in mind that the people who "succeed" are the ones we will typically hear about on HN. So ... there is a lot of unspoken failure out there.