1. When they make you introduce yourself:

I would say that I am a pretty outgoing person. When I came to college it was like I had forgotten how to talk to people. And now that another semester has begun a lot of professors are having us introduce ourselves. I cannot describe the dread that surfaces when I hear the words “Let’s take a moment to get to know one another” or “I want to get to know a little about all of you.”

2. When they tell you to find a partner:

My biggest college class fear is having to do group work. Especially when the professor tells you to find a person who you have yet to talk to. Honestly, when I see someone I know in my class I leap for joy hoping that I can stick to them like glue. And you want me to let them go and talk to a stranger, release my life preserver? There is the awkward searching for the person who will be forced to talk to you. Introductions as they try to pronounce your name but it comes out like (L-uh-z) instead of (loose) Luz.

3. “Tell us something fun about yourself/something you did over break”:

So not only do you want to know my name, major (let the judging on the English major begin), and my year but now I have to find something that will not make me seem like someone who spends their free time taking naps (which I am but only my roommates need to know that). As we get to listen to Kristen talk about her fun trip to Spain and Kevin talk about his hiking expedition while my vacation consisted of finally learning to press nine before sending a fax at work.

4. Everyone find some stranger and ask for their number:

Honestly, when my professor told me to ask three random people for their contact information last week I immediately turned to the two people I know. Even though I already have their numbers I refuse to have to find more than one person I do not know to give me their number. I had one more slot so Immediately turned to the guy next to me. I make a gesture asking if he wants to switch info and his response stills gets to me. He turns to me and says “Okay, I’ll give you my email, but I guarantee that I will be here everyday” I translated this to I do not want to give you my phone number and I do not want yours. So to that random guy, thanks for making me never want to interact with anyone ever again, and no I was not fishing for your number.

5. The unassigned assigned seat you will have to fight for:

The seat you choose in college is something you really care about. Wars have been started over people taking other people's unassigned assigned seat. You either choose to sit in the front because you don’t want to risk falling asleep or being tempted to online shop. Or you choose to sit in the back to do exactly those things. You may sit next to a familiar face or in a corner where no one can see how alone you are (like me).