Re: If those around you are not in your league
Which country? Which gender?
Look outside, tell parents to use rishta aunties, matrimonial agencies. Could try online sites too.
Build your own network - friends, colleagues etc and also attend events etc. Why stick to the pure arranged marriage route? Surely, not running away but still making much more of a self effort will be easier.
Unfortunately, the way these things work for us - the skills, social setup, status etc of parents can have a bigger effect than the person themselves.