Going back to school is a really exciting time to catch up with friends and learn new things, and a great way to meet new friends. But if you are shy, you may feel really isolated and overwhelmed when you go back to school. This can be especially true if you're attending a new school and don’t have your usual social circle that you feel comfortable with. I have experienced this firsthand and I have some advice for those who have this problem.
-Often, shyness can occur from a lack of self-confidence, and I totally understand how it is, but how do you overcome it? Well one way to do that is to just fake it- Take a few deep breaths and walk into class like you own the place. Then take it one day at a time and just introduce yourself to the person that is sitting next to you in class. Try to start a conversation with them, by starting with small talk or a compliment and slowly get to know them better. If it doesn't seem like you and the person are getting along well, move on and try it with different people. The more you do this, the less “faking” confidence you will have to do; you can also slowly develop a small group of friends like this. This will help you with future social situations as well.
-Join a club or a sports team! This is a perfect way to find others who enjoy doing the same activities as you do. That can help you have something to talk about easily with a person and possibly have a friend with whom you can continue to do those activities.
-Obviously, while you are looking for friends you need to make sure that you find those who will lift you up, not go against you. Having good friends can help you become more comfortable with yourself and increase your confidence.
-If you are outgoing, try to reach out to someone who is shy and talk to them. Sometimes it takes one person to bring someone out of their shell. When I was in tenth grade I met my best friend and she helped me to open up and talk to a lot more people. This helped to increase my confidence and self-esteem.
You just have to remember that it’s perfectly fine being you and having a good circle of friends can help you get through the tough times. Especially if you're in a new setting, there will be many others like you who are trying to find some new friends, and you should try to do this process as early as possible. I’m not saying that doing these tips will make you popular but it will help you find some good friends and can help you enjoy being in school even more. Having that supportive circle can make you happier and increase your self-confidence.
-Katrina
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