u/After-Cricket-9650

I(21M) just graduated from college and feel like I missed a big opportunity. I want to get into the dating scene and put myself out there, but I do not know where to start. My friends say that the dating apps/sites are all bad as they're designed to keep you engaged rather than find a connection. I've also seen/heard that picking up hobbies I might enjoy is good, but I can't seem to find anything within 1 hour of my location.

Tips, advice, and even success stories would be appreciated, as I could use a dose of hope.