Teasel, if your profile is correct, then I think being single is probably still a good idea for a few more years. It is perfectly OK to get a girlfriend though.
I am going to assume you are currently in college, or a university. It seems to me, as a current student myself, that you have plenty of opportunities to meet women on campus. If you are in the same classes, and have similar interests, then you already have something in common to talk about. Are you a fairly good student? Can you help others with their homework? Are you a bad student? Can you get someone to help you with your homework? Do you eat lunch in the cafeteria? Chat with others about things while in the cafeteria. Have a laptop? Watch interesting things on your laptop while eating and have the screen facing where others can see it. See if anyone takes an interest in what you are watching. Conversation started. Go into the bookstore and go to your favorite section. Manga or Sci-Fi or Fantasy, or whatever. See if anyone else is looking for stuff, and recommend something. Don't be forceful, or creepy, just be genuinely interested in what they like. You could find a new author you didn't know about as well as meet someone interesting. There are plenty of opportunities to meet new people.
As everyone has already said. BE YOURSELF! Don't try to change your outward appearance, hairstyle, clothing, whatnot. Such things are superficial, and if that is all that the person is attracted to, then it isn't going to be a very long relationship, or a worthwhile one. Just be clean, take a bath, put on some deoderant, wear fairly decent clothes, comb your hair, and put on a smile.
Don't try to impress people. Often, this just backfires on you and they think you are uppity, or snobbish. Don't do things on your first few dates, that you wouldn't normally do, or intend to continue doing. I know, I know. You want to make a good impression, but believe me. If you start with it, it will become expected, and from then on, she will be dissappointed if things aren't the same. Things like opening doors, paying her half of the bill, calling her every 6 hours. These can become either expected, or sometimes dreaded. Your best bet is to ask her what she wants. Does she prefer to go Dutch? Is she offended by you holding the door for her? Does she find your constant phone calling annoying? I find that finding a nice quiet spot, and just talking, can be the most rewarding thing about a relationship. I recommend doing it in person, and not over a chat forum or on the phone.
This is advice from someone old enough to be your dad. take it however you want. I will say that I myself met my wife in Jr. High. I think it was in 1977. We dated through High School and got married in our early 20's We have been happily married for almost 24 years now, and have two children. The youngest will be 19 in July, his older sis will turn 24 in December.
