The very fact that you made this post is a big step... As a not very social person myself I learned that keeping an open mind while also knowing your own boundaries is important for knowing who you're going to be able to get along with or not... It's also important to make sure that you don't change yourself just to fit in It's always good to try new things but there are limits that's why you need to know your own boundaries and every social circle's going to have its own complexities and it can be overwhelming and it might not work on the first second or 5th try but you'll get there.... some people are -blam!- at first but are very relatable once you could get to know them.... that surface is different for everybody not everyone is social so they have a mask or character they play in social situations and can be a completely different person underneath I am like that It's a defense mechanism and sometimes people do it and don't even realize it It's a tough habit to break.....

As cheesey as it sounds just be yourself and don't force.

There's no "right way" to make friends; it can't be forced or scripted. What you did here is as good a start as any; reach out to people, make conversation, see if you have common interests, then build from there. Also, don't try to rush it, let it happen naturally.