party time!
Hey, relax. Take a deep breath. First, it would be helpful if I knew what kind of party it is? How were you invited? Who else will be there? Parties at SMU are likely to vary. Given the date, perhaps it's a Halloween party.
In my younger days, I, too, was uncomfortable at parties. If you don't know the people, how will you know what to say or talk about? Everyone that has ever been to a college mixer has asked themselves similar questions.
Lucky for you, the internet can help you.
I could write you a script, but that would be useless. The objective of this site is to provide EMPOWERMENT. Use the tools and tips and you will succeed. You may not succeed at this party, but you will be laying a framework for future success.
Now, here's a way to use one of the tenets of behavioral- stimuli response. Some parties are a blast. However, not everybody enjoys a party. Some are desgnated drivers, some are new to the area and only know one or two other people at the party.
You should be astute enough to see who's not having a great time. Before you go to the party, figure out where you're going to go after the party! The after party is critical, I think. If the honey's not having a good time, you walk up, introduce yourself, and ask her if she's having as much fun as you are. This is a simple yes or no question. So, you know you'll have to have a response for each possible outcome. If she's into you, and fairly clever, she'll ask you how much fun you're having.
If she says no, commisserate. Tell her that it's not as much fun as you thought it would be, but tell her that you think that "we" should be part of the solution, not a part of the problem.
(Here's where you have to have done your homework. Tell a funny joke, or tell a horrible joke in a funny way. Do a magic trick.
Tell her a scary story if you can actually pull it off.)
If she says yes, you'll have to ask yourself if this girl is lying to you, or did you mis interpret her nonverbal cues. (Why was she sitting down doing nothing? Why the long face? etc..)
Watch your alcohol consumption. If you're drunk, you're really going to make it difficult for a decent girl to justify chasing you.
Rule #1. Do not talk to any girls for the first hour of the party. At all, period, unless they talk to you first. If you're introduced, smile big, and picture them dressed in sweat pants and a dirty t-shirt.
Why? First, you never know who else is going to show up. No sense mustering up your courage to talk to some honey, only to discover that there are three more honeys much sweeter that have arrived.
Best of luck,
Big Pappy