Should I just give up on this getting to know my classmates thing?

As many of you know, I have asperger’s. I am also getting my master’s. You also likely know I am dealing with a personal tragedy.

I’ll make this short. Basically back in August when I started I was making a real effort to make friends, be approachable, and while it wasn’t going like I hoped, it wasn’t a total disaster.

Then tragedy struck in mid-september and I have made no effort in the friend category. Everyone has spent the last two months getting to become friends, and I’m completely on the periphery now (just trust me on this, it’s not just a feeling, but stuff like being the only person doing an observation alone whereas everyone else is partnered up)

Do I just write-off the social aspects as a lost cause, try to not feel horrible when no one wants to partner with me for projects, and just try to remember by May 2016 this will all be a memory?

Or do I put in some effort again, even though at this point it feels everyone is cemented in their groups? Do I attend the holiday party and try to mingle?