I suffered for years with this and shyness. It's taken 3/4 of my lifespan to feel like I'm worth talking to and being noticed. Because I'm pretty enough everyone assumed I was stuck up, not insecure and withdrawn. Anyway, from watching popular friends walk into new situations I've learned how to act. When you are at the grocery or wherever, ask the checkout person "How you doing today?" Just make yourself say it. The guy behind you....say "There went 2 gallons of gas money..." just anything. When you get used to this little chatter it starts coming out of your mouth all the time and people do respond most of the time! If they don't, someone else near you might or somebody will smile at you. Whether you care about talking to them or not make yourself get used to doing it. If you are in a meeting ask somebody the time. Make eye contact walking to class with people and say hi if they look back at you. Role play you are the one everybody wants to talk too. Find something that works and think confidence. I never could put my two cents in during classes and still probably can't but that's ok. I don't set myself up to be ridiculed by giving a weird comment in class, but I can tell the person next to me I like their boots and that makes us both feel better and is a contact. So, that's my beginning advice! Don't give up. I've come a long, long way!