Socializing is hard

Meeting new people is very hard for me. I don't know why though. I have a few friends I'm sort of comfortable around, but they were the ones who came to talk to me first and even then I was still shy talking to them. I'm not a very outspoken person. So just being in a room full of strangers just makes me so nervous. Like one time when I was going to the cafeteria at school, I turned around and just really wondered the campus and then went to take a drive for a little before coming back and finding one of my friends to go in with me. I was literally terrified of going in there with so many people. It felt like I could feel their eyes on my just staring and judging me. It was creepy.
I've tried to put myself in situations where I could socialize with others on my own, but it's never really worked out. I would go to a small gathering on campus and usually I end up sitting in a corner by myself, not talking to anyone and reading. I'm use to bring a book to awkward situations so I can just ignore everyone and read. Usually when I take my book out ten minutes later I leave, because I rather read in my room. It's aggravating, because I want to meet new people, but I get so nervous and scared that I just RUN.
I've noticed that in order for me to be around people I don't know I need to distract myself from noticing that there are others around me. Something like a book or my notebook and pen/pencil with me or I'll just feel so out of place. I don't know. It's just so weird.