Help me try to start a fresh new life?

okay so for the last few years my life has steadily been going downhill and finally this year and just got so bad....i knew that i had to try and change my life or i would be sad and misearable the rest of my life. so i got new hobbies and interests. i am going to a new school next year. i changed my wardrobe and hairstyle. i am not going to change my name but instead i am going to ask people to call me by a nickname instead. so hopefully next year i will be able to make all new friends and make all new people at a new school. i am trying to change my personality not because i wanted to change who i was but bc it was affecting people around me. my personality type is one that doesnt make a lot of friends and is non-sociable. so i am trying to change. can u give me any advice as to other things tht might help me start a fresh new, refreshing life?