And again I have experience here- some of us are destined to fail numerous times and even when it feels maybe you can take the next step with your one chance you have things come crashing down. I don't know where I stand with my current "girlfriend", but really, we're just people with similar interests that like to talk about things deeper than what was on TV.
Just talking with people is my one ace card. Socially I've went from nothing to the guy that hangs with literally everyone, but that dosen't mean I've had any success beyond having people to talk with. I hate to say it about myself because it makes it sound untrue, but I'm humble, generous, and humorous. Of course I've been walked on in the past, but thankfully I've learned to be careful about that.
In other words, I may not be attractive, sport-y, or the common image of popularity. I may be a nerd, into things expressly different, and uncaring about my own image. Somehow, I've managed to hang on to the popularity ladder and stay there, but there's never been any real bonus to getting more than just common friends.
I used to take that "be absurdly nice and nice things will happen" but that's not the way it works. You get friends and talk with people in their groups. Talk with people around you, but at least try to let it happen naturally. Don't immediately start talking to someone you want to date, but "work your way" up to them. Yeah, you'll fall into traps along the way, but that's society. Right now, that's how I have the closest thing to a girlfriend I've ever had came about because I met people who were like me and talked with them. Slowly the conversations got deeper and more meaningful, and that's where I am now.