Five-year difference when you're in your early 20's is hardly "cougar". If there were a something-teen year difference, that would be "cougar". A 17-year-old at your time of life is a candy cane, a snack.
I'm the cougar here, baby-girl. I have a daughter almost your age and I like boys that she hangs out with. It helps that she's a complete lezzie - more candy for me.
The whole "cougar" business is a joke. It's just a clever name for nasty old hags who dress and act like teenagers and think they're still hot when they are nothing but ridiculous. They seem to think getting a guy to fuck them is an accomplishment - hello? they're guys, they'll fuck anything with a hole.
even other guys.
Don't let a 5 years difference bother you.
Be more concerned about his maturity.
At that age, most guys in this culture just aren't too swift in the emotions department.
I might also point out that it's illegal to have sex with anyone under age I8, so maybe you'd better wait or go with someone a bit older.
I had sex with a thirty plus year old women when I was twenty. We worked together in a a resturant and one night she need some help and I offered. She paid me with dinner. We sat down to listen to some music and talked a bit. Of course the topic of sex came up and things just went from there. Can't say it was the best experience I ever had, but it didn't hurt either. So I say go for it.
Pussy turns nasty after it's 30 years old. Women over 30 are desperate, clingy and lousy in bed. RUN AWAY!
