So, somewhere about 2 or 3 months ago, I swallowed the red pill after realizing that I was getting nowhere with my beta-like demeanor (it hasn't really changed all that much, but I have come to the realization that my lack of assertiveness is probably the biggest factor in my wasted high school days). The only problem is, it happened too late, after the prime opportunity to experiment with sex and relationships passed over my head like a breeze on a Sunday afternoon. I'm 18, and I'd like to get some advice on what my overall strategies should be when it comes to dealing with the opposite gender. To give a little background, I went to an extremely small, unevenly split religious high school (we're talking <100 students and a 1.5:1 male:female ratio) that pretty much taught me to wait for "the one". Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not religious, but these were great people and even though their sexual advice was bullshit, I still had a relatively good time there (a much better time than I would've had at my local public high school; people there knew me and I had a negative reputation within their social groups due to some fights and grudges from middle school). During high school, I pretty much just played sports (Football and Baseball) and studied my ass off to no avail (4.2 graduating GPA; still at Community College because I applied only to MIT and got rejected like a dumbass). I'm still a virgin (love-shy), and have never had any sort of intimate contact or conversation with a member of the opposite sex. I have a few friends, one who's been a few relationships but is still a virgin, one who's a soon-to-be-cured incel, and one who's had a few partners (I'll go into depth about him later on). If it's of any importance, I'm 5'7" and weigh 150 pounds (yes, I've been training since I was 14) and still keep up on my fitness regularly.

My main philosophy on dealing with the opposite sex has drastically shifted from that of a good little boy waiting for his turn in a never-ending line to that of TRP, although I haven't really acted much differently than before.

I sort of get the impression that I'm a doormat, but I'm confused as to why. I'm kind and courteous to others when I'm in public, but it's not like I've ever bent over backwards for anyone for some silly ol' reason. I've been friend-zoned once before by a girl who I briefly liked, but lost attraction to after I found out I was friend-zoned.

Now, about the friend that I mentioned earlier... He's a laid-back, nonchalant type of guy who's both lazy and passive-aggressive. He's never had a job, never put any effort into a relationship other than asking his other half to put out, and still manages to pull 8s and 9s. He's pretty scrawny, 5'9" and 130 pounds, and his main diet consists of TV dinners and fast food. He's a cool guy to hang around with and talk about video games with, but I never understood how he was able to pull chicks with literally no game.

Anyways, any sort of advice or criticism based on what you've just seen would be very nice. I've been blue-pilled my whole life and I still get the same blue-pill advice from whoever I ask advice from. It would be nice to hear some legitimate tips and pointers from time to time. Sorry if the wall of text was just too much. I figured I'd go into as much detail as I could if I wanted good advice.