1. Pretending to text in public so no one will talk to you.

Don't make eye contact... I'll just scroll through my old texts and pictures and pretend.

2. Pretending to write when the professor asks a question, even if you know the answer, because you don't want to get called on.

I can't answer this question, professor, I'm too far behind in the notes!

3. Everyone assumes that you're the nicest person in the room just because you're shy.

I'm just silently judging you all from over here.

4. When you actually raise your hand to speak, you feel so proud of yourself.

5. But often, when you do speak, somehow no one can hear you.

This is why I'm the quiet one.

6. Your close friends don't believe you when you talk about how you're shy.

But on the bright side, that means they've just forgotten how awkwardly shy you are for the first couple of months of friendship.

7. Never being the first to volunteer. For anything.

8. Not knowing anyone on the first day of classes... Or the last... Because you don't know how to casually start conversation.

But you are very thankful for the outgoing people who will start the conversations for you.

9. Playing out scenarios in your head so you're better prepared for real life.

10. You make your friends go to places with you so you aren't forced to make conversation alone.

But at the end of the day, you don't mind being shy. It lets you get a better sense of the situation around you, and you are usually a very good judge of character.