Surviving High School for the Socially Awkward
A lot of people say that high school has been the best time of their lives. While this may be true, it doesn't necessarily apply to everyone. Usually the people who enjoy their high school lives are outspoken extroverts who can manage social situations easily. Then there's us; the socially awkward individuals who'd much rather sit at a corner and wish to be released.
High school can be a tough time in a lot of people's lives, but for people who're socially awkward, it's infinitely worse. Making friends is already a challenge, but high school life doesn't end there. Combined with the drama from your classmates, group assignments that require socialisation, and presentations that can give you stage fright, it's not too hard for high school life to turn into a nightmare.
Fear not, however, for you can bring this into control. It might not be easy, but it's a start.
MAKE A FRIEND
Your first task would be to make one friend. Although that's easier said than done, with some perseverance and temporary confidence it is possible! Having at least one friend will help you from feeling lonely and counting the hours to when class ends.
IGNORE THE CROWD
One of the biggest problems I faced was constantly worrying about other people's opinions of me. You'll soon realise that at the end of the day, their opinions don't really matter and in most cases you're probably just overthinking. If you want to sit alone in the cafeteria, go for it! If you don't have anyone to sit beside you in lessons, ignore that and just listen to the lecture. If anyone is giving you judging stares, they most likely just want you to notice and feel bad. Don't give them that satisfaction.
DO YOUR PART
Group projects are inevitable – teachers, for some odd reason, are absolutely in love with them – and they can be a nightmare for multiple reasons. You may not get along well with your peers, or you may have social anxiety when interacting with others, to name a few. Whatever your reason is, don't ignore your work. Once you get your part of the project assigned to you, quietly finish and submit it by the deadline to avoid any drama and future confrontation. There's no need for chit-chat if you don't care for it.
ENJOY THE RIDE
It may seem hard now, but you have to remember that this will pass. High school life can be dramatic, bothersome, and even scary sometimes, but it all ends eventually, after which you'll hopefully never have to look back. Enjoy the perks while you still can, join some clubs, attend school events even if you hate it, because all of this is never coming back.
Whatever you do, don't do what I did and never show up to class.
Saamin Azam Suha is a fandom connoisseur, professional procrastinator, and wannabe MasterChef. Send her compliments at [email protected]
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