Wow! You must have hit a nerve (in a good way) to have so much activity on this thread.
I think most people have felt left out or even shunned. Everybody's been a minority and felt prejudice, be it age, national origin, sex, color of hair, weight, religion, style of dress, income, what side of town they live on, social rank. Every catagory has it's acceptable and unacceptable behaviour. If you're outside that group, you won't know the "rules" and unknowingly break some rule. Like going to a new church and sitting in someone else's "assigned pew". (This is a joke on ourselves, kind of shakes us up.)
I know I'm prejudiced but try to see past it and accept everyone. However, I already have found my circle of friends. Including someone new requires everyone in the group to also accept the new person. Or I can step out of my circle of friends and start a new group-that's risky. It takes time to be included. And just one key friend can change everything.
Give it time. Take part in activities that put you one on one with other people: retreats, committees. Seek out other newbe's.
This goes for all newbe's: Let them know who you are: show n tell (give some personal details about your quilt), personal pictures, bring a friend, be vulnerable. But also be confident in yourself-that's really hard at 20 when you're still learning who you are. By the way many 60+ yr old's don't know who they are either and feel vulnerable. Many are wearing a veil of some kind and feel safer with it in place.
Many older people have slowed down in body and mind. Young people embrace new things faster. It's a challenge for us older's to keep up, let alone see you pass us up and be powerless to do anything about it. I'd like to see the younger lead the older, to rejoice in your accomplishments, for the strengths of everyone be magnified and the weakness be supported. I think this is unity, love and team work.
Keep trying, don't give up. Find those who will champion the new. We'll all be better for embracing differences.