I've always been shy. Speaking to new people made me nervous beyond compare. I avoided uncomfortable social situations as much as I possibly could. That is, until I moved into my new home where I didn't know a single person. Being alone and shy in college changed everything I thought I knew.
Without my parents and more outgoing friends to lean on, I was thrust into a world full of people who, just like me, were a little confused and scared. I'm sure some of them were just as shy, if not more so, than me. The only thing we all had in common was that we were all in a new place and in desperate need of finding new friends, and since our campus is small, we essentially created a Petri dish of friendships.
The first day was hard. I was moving all of my stuff in and trying to meet new people, but my parents were still there so I was mostly relying on them to speak to the people I didn't know. Eventually, they left, and I spent the rest of the night with my roommate. I considered it a success. Then came the second day.
The second day was so much harder since I was now actually alone in a new place full of new people. However, I was determined to make friends. I'm not much of a fitness junkie, but when someone asked me to work out with them the next day, I immediately jumped at the chance of a new friend.
I don't run very often, and the further we ran from the school, the further we would have to run back. My potential friend never seemed to get tired, and I didn't want to seem like a wimp and ask to turn back so soon. We ended up running four and a half miles...and it was awful. It did work, though. We became friends, except now our workouts are slightly less strenuous.
This successful experience led me to try and make even more friends. I started saying hi to people in my dorm and on the quad, and just generally attempting to speak to more people.
I definitely didn't click with everyone, but I felt more confident about approaching others to start a conversation. It helped that everyone else was in the same boat as me, looking for new friends and great conversation. On a campus known for its friendliness, I quickly fell into place and fit right in.
I'm still not super outgoing and I definitely enjoy my alone time, but I don't feel lonely in this new place. I know that I have friends I can go to.
Don't get me wrong, it's still super difficult to start conversations with random people. The fear of being judged or disliked is always in the back of my mind. But it's definitely possible to speak to others if you just have a little confidence and a lot of courage. College is hard enough itself, so don't let being shy hold you back from having the best time of your life.
