Even today in middle age -when I am at a social I generally sit and observe for a while what kinda stuff folks are talking about in order to determine "whats cool to talk about with this particular group" before I dive in.
If you make observations about a person you meet -and those observations happen to be flattering to them then -go ahead and say -"I like that blouse you're wearing- where did you buy it?", or that's "cool looking car you drive- does it get good mileage?". Don't just blurt out non flattering thngs to folks you are just meeting.
Don't be silent. But don't monologue either. The goal with folks you are just meeting is keep it back-and-forth like a tennis game. Mention stuff about yourself, but (since you're just practing the art of conversation) make a game of getting others to do most of the talking. Ask the BS small talk questions that you don't really care about the answer to - just to keep folks talking ("what's your major?" is the main conversational lubricant for college students). And like that. The more interested you ACT while you listen to them, the more folks will warm to you- usually.
And once in while small talk leads to "large talk"- you might hit upon some common interest with a person- and you get into a real conversation with them. But you cant win the lottery if you don't play (ie engage in small talk first).