Shy Helping Hands

I seem to have come across a problem that keeps making it's way into my life every time I want to volunteer.  I constantly need to find people that can put a good word in for me so I'm able to volunteer, and this ranges from references to letters of recommendation. It's not that I'm a terrible person or anything, but I can't find any. My downfall is apparently my shyness. I've always kept to myself, and my only extracurricular activities included the time-sucking soccer. I just don't talk much. I much prefer listening than adding worthless commentary. I talk a lot more now but not to my professors. I figure they're busy with their professor like duties and classes. I don't have questions ever, because I normally understand what the lecture is all about during class. I read and listen. That's sorta how I've been making A's my whole life, but apparently it's not good making letters of reference. Geez. So here I am so desperately wanting to volunteer and help out, but my shyness has taken me down a road that will not allow for that. I swear I'm not a bad person. All I want to do is help. OH THE FRUSTRATION.