Is it normal that i rely on others' affirmation to boost my own self-confidence

When I was nine, I moved to Texas in the middle of third grade. I was very shy and stayed relatively quiet for the first few weeks. However, I was also a kid with a lot of energy that just wanted to fit in. The following year, the group of about 4 or 5 kids that I always sat with at lunch started playfully harassing me and, in a way, testing to see how tough/funny I was to figure out if I was compatible with their group. But, at the time, I didn't understand that that was what they were doing; so, I just took all the mean things they said to me and hoped that they would catch on that I didn't care.

They didn't.

Everyday, I'd go to school and get bullied and picked on for how weird I was, how much I talked (to try to impress people), and other things equivalent. Eventually, my whole grade caught on that if they liked me, they would not be accepted by others.

Four years I lived live this. Four years. I've almost devoted my life to being kind to and defending others in order for them to never have to experience what I went through.

That's why I feel I'm not respected, mainly. I give everyone else respect, and treat them how I want to be treated, but get sh*t for it in return. My goal in high school was to be the Ferris Bueller of my school. I wanted everyone to know who I was and like me for it.

To this day, however, I now rely on other people's affirmation and for them to like me in order to boost my own self-confidence. Even if I really don't like the person, I want everyone to treat me as if they would treat their friends. But the sad thing is that because I already treat them like a friend, I either creep them out, scare them away, or give them no 'challenge' to earn my acceptance.

Anyone else feel this way? Or, am I utterly alone with people that are just going to tell me to that "I shouldn't care about people that don't like me" and to "just forget about them"?