I'm posting this because I need to vent and get some outside perspectives and advice.

I'm a 19-year-old introverted guy in university, and my classes are all guys—not that it’s a problem, but what frustrates me is hearing people say that getting girls at university or parties is supposed to be easy. Even friends who are less attractive than I am seem to have more success with girls than I do.

When I’m at parties, I try making eye contact with girls, but none of them ever look back at me or smile. At university, I’ve had some eye contact with girls, but either I was in a relationship at the time, or I couldn’t really interpret their signals.

I can’t figure out what I’m doing wrong.

Last night, I went to a party where some of my female friends brought along other girls I didn’t know. They wouldn’t even look at me, except maybe when I wasn’t paying attention.

Everyone tells me the same thing: if I had more confidence, it would be easy for me since I’m tall (181cm), have blue eyes, a nice beard, and I’m in good shape from going to the gym. But even though people say I’m handsome, I still feel insecure and see myself as just average-looking.

I’ve had relationships before, but the hardest part for me is always the beginning. Once I get past that, I can have good conversations, flirt, and usually, if I want to kiss or sleep with someone, it eventually happens. But it’s rare for a girl to make the first move with me, and my less attractive friends seem to have no problem getting attention. I ended my last relationship a year ago and haven’t really talked to any girls since then.

I just can’t wrap my head around it. I feel like I’m self-sabotaging by letting this insecurity get to me. It’s really messing with my confidence, and I hate feeling this way.

What advice would you guys give? I’m not sure how to approach girls at university or parties. I know there’s no magic formula, but I’ve tried following the advice I’ve read here, and I still keep 'failing.'