I was agonizingly shy from elementary school through college. Then, in grad school, somehow through a combination of teaching undergrads and a brief bout of LARPing, I developed the ability to fake being confident/outgoing. Over time, the faking it part ceased to be fake. I stopped being shy in some circumstances, to the point now where new acquaintances are surprised when I describe myself that way.

Getting around the shyness was a very, very painful process, though. The night before the very first time I had to teach, I was physically ill. Now I vaguely look forward to being at the front of the class. Still, if you put me in a room where I’m new, but most everyone else knows each other, it’s still just as terrifying as it was years and years ago. If everyone is new to each other, I’m pretty comfortable.

Ah, introvertedness—-such an interesting internal dynamic.