Hey everyone! I have been lurking around the forum for a while and have just been reading as much as I can when I find free time. I have a lot to learn and am very grateful to have found a place where I can finally ask some questions - questions, quite frankly, that I would be quite embarrassed to have to ask the people I know in real life. Bare with me, I'll try to make it short.

A little bit about myself: I am 19 years old doing my second year in a big university in a big city in Canada. I consider myself quite smart and get good grades in school. My problem is that I have pretty much been a video game nerd my entire existence and have never had any experience with girls, not even a kiss. I spent all of my free time since the beginning of last year in first year staying in my room and playing on the computer and pretty much avoided any social interactions. Looking back, I am quite disgusted and disappointed in myself as I realize that I had achieved nothing and am now in a shithole in terms of my social situation. I don't have really have any friends other than the few people that were from my high school and I really have no idea how I could make some more friends. I'm not a particularly antisocial person, but I feel like I am in a rut and don't know how to get out...I wish I had read the thread on University a year sooner...since it's all a snowball effect.

So here are my plans:
Right now I'm in the middle of exams so I have an excuse to keep to myself and study.
As soon as I'm done though I'm going back to my homehome and I think I'll try going out to the field during the holidays with some of my highschool friends and finally get some approaches under my belt.

But as far as making some friends from my university here once I get back, I would love to hear some suggestions. I would love to be more social but it is quite difficult not knowing anyone and where to be begin.

every time you get invited to any social event, even if it's family, say yes, every time. Talk to everyone that you're interested in meeting that you walk past, talk to every person when you buy food, behind the counter, make them feel like more than just a robot.

What if I don't get invited to anything here because I don't know anybody (at least ones that would invite me to events)?

I don't get invited to events either at the moment, because i'm just starting out making friends around this area.

But what happens is you snow ball, you'll eventually find a friend if you talk to everyone, you'll meet up with him/her again, they'll invite you out, you'll make new contacts, and get invited to more things, it's a snowball effect. It works