I posted earlier about being (1)cheerful, (2)greeting others first, (3)asking them questions and (4)making positive comments and believe this works! As an adult, I have mastered this and have a lot of friends. However, as a youngster I was also shy and have been diagnosed as an introvert according to personality tests. i overcame this and you can too if you follow 1-4. You do not have to be shackled to your biological father, your pattern of behavior up to now, or anything else. Good luck!