Your primary concerns seem to be emotional - any hope, any path, where to begin, ever consider. Others have responded with encouragement, but as you know, enco

Your primary concerns seem to be emotional - any hope, any path, where to begin, ever consider. Others have responded with encouragement, but as you know, encouragement does not create courage like success does. The solution there, I think, is to realize (moment to moment) that your feelings are a normal response to floundering: loss of energy and perspective. They are not real. One aspect of your questions is essential: leverage, from networks and experiences You're now recognizing that your diligence and skill did not add up to connections or milestones that could lead you to other opportunities. That leads you to want help. Sure, help helps, but wanting help doesn't. Getting help might. Helping yourself? definitely helps. But realize that with your history, people who can give help are not inclined to help you. That includes partners, admissions and job evaluators, etc. The solution is to work on something you can control, and use success in that to engage in more collaboration, and build from there. Just don't forget the most important thing is to work on the right thing. Don't polish any turds, and don't hesitate to leave behind a bad investment.