This is not an answer (as I am mid-twenties), but rather a related question:
I have been told by many people more successful than I that I should always try to be friends with people older than I. How can I do this?
I have been told by many people more successful than I that I should always try to be friends with people older than I. How can I do this?
Also, among the reasons older people are useful besides connections is so that you can learn from their wisdom or lack of wisdom. (It can be useful to keep a list for yourself of traits you want to root out and avoid so you don't become that guy 20 years from now.) Usually you can do this learning by active observation on your part, but sometimes people will feel compelled to teach you explicitly. God knows I'm no expert at social graces, but most of the time you probably have to let that ride, and strongly consider the possibility that you deserved it. If you're sure you didn't, try to understand why they thought you did.