One of the hashtags that recently appeared on Twitter is #GrowingUpShy, which chronicles the thoughts of bashful, introverted kids. An example from @tbhplzdont is “#GrowingUpShy when wanna give an answer but youre scared it’s wrong and then someone else answers and you were actually right.” As someone who did grow up shy and still is, I can attest that the tweets are very accurate.
As the hashtag implies, being shy could just be a phase you go through as a child throughout elementary school or middle school but you'll get over it eventually. Some people are lucky that it is just a phase and they go from a cautious, hesitant kid in middle school to a boisterous, outgoing teenager who wins prom king. But what happens when it isn't a phase? This world wasn't exactly made for shy people, but that doesn't mean it has to hold you back. So let me tell you some of my personal experiences to show you the struggle is real.
I remember when I was about 11 years old, my mom asked me to go into the dry cleaners for her. I protested thinking "what if something goes wrong?” but I got out of the car after more persistence from my mom, slowly walked to the door, opened the door, and walked to the cashier. Then she asked a question but I didn't quite understand her. I asked her politely to repeat the question until I understood that she was asking for a phone number. I thought "Oh no! I didn't think about that! Do I say her cell or the house phone??" I started freaking out until I ended up running out of the store, crying, telling my mom I couldn't do it.
It's important for people to understand that being shy or having anxiety is something that people often struggle with and doing something as simple as ordering food from a fast food restaurant can be a daunting task. But there is good news for anyone who hasn’t grown out of the “phase." While it is never easy to overcome your fears, with practice and being pushed outside of your comfort zone little by little, it can get better.
College is definitely something that is going to push you outside of your comfort zone and, ironically, I became a communications major. Some struggles of going to college and being shy are always having to find someone to go eat with, having to deliver presentations, those lovely participation grades, trying to make friends in your dorm so you don’t just sit and watch Netflix 24-7.
I do have a few tips for overcoming those fears and having a good successful college experience. First, find something you are passionate about and I guarantee there are going to be people who have that same passion that you can bond with. Second, always try your best with presentations or participating in class. Professors are only trying to prepare you and they should be able to tell that you are at least trying. Plus, if you don’t try you can’t succeed. Third, if you are really struggling with anxiety don’t be afraid to reach out to your college’s counseling services.
I appreciate that, in a way, the hashtag has brought awareness to the struggles of being shy but it is important that it doesn’t cross the line to making fun since anxiety can be a real problem.
