They say that "Nobody Likes You When You're 23." Although I am now 23, I know that I am not the only one who feels like nobody has liked me my entire life. I have always considered myself a loner.

While this was simply a natural state for my introverted personality when I was younger, it eventually became a defense mechanism in response to not fitting in. I often would jump from one friend group to another never letting people get close enough to like me. It just seemed that no matter who I hung out with, I was always on the outside of an inside joke — even if I was in the center of the conversation.

I am now officially realizing this is the last school peer group that I will ever have. This is was my last chance to finally fit in and for people to like me, and I must say that I have epically failed.

The problem with openly being a loner is that eventually people really do leave you alone. Then you’re stuck with only yourself. And guess what? Once the self-loathing kicks in, you realize you don’t even like you.

Don't get me wrong. I absolutely love all of my friends. The problem is, when you’re an introvert, people do try to like you. They invite you to places and events, and you always say you “have to check your schedule” or “have other plans.” But really, you sit alone on your couch and bask in the freedom of your loneliness. You’re safe here, and your differences from your peers don’t drastically stand out. The group text messages, social media posts and snap chat stories roll in, and you definitely feel some remorse for not participating.

However, when you make the choice to be alone often enough, you start seeing these posts on your phone and realize this time you weren't even invited. And nothing hurts worse, so you sit there and cry because nobody likes you and you have no one to blame but yourself.

To fix the cycle, you have to put yourself out there again, but it's so hard when no one likes you anymore. When you make that effort, you feel so extremely out of place. You're on the outside looking in, and people don't understand how hard it is for you to even speak up and attempt to participate in conversation. You're not good at this. You are used to being all by yourself.

The mask you wear around your peers is possibly the greatest contributor to the fact that nobody likes you. You are hard, rigid, and bitter. The fear of showing your true self, though — the vulnerable, witty one that loves art, music, and selflessness — is greater than the need to feel liked. Because what’s worse than nobody liking your altered self? Nobody liking your true self. You’ve cried enough tears over your alter ego’s lack of popularity to ever put your true one out there.

So the next time you feel like nobody likes you, prove yourself wrong. You weren’t invited? Invite other people to come and do something with you. Let people know that while you’re a loner, it doesn’t define you. Slowly but surely you will become more comfortable and eventually you may even start to get rid of your mask.

I know that I still haven’t reached this step with most of the people I interact with, but it’s a process! It will be scary, but I promise you that the feeling of being your true self and having people respond positively is the best feeling in the world and well worth the risk. It’s finally time to put your subconscious, negative thoughts aside because when nobody likes you, everybody does. And there’s nothing better than feeling liked.