The quiet (or even silent) ones in seminars baffle me. Those of you that have been, or are currently at University will know the type I am talking about. They are the ones that just sit there during class discussions afraid to open their mouths, praying the tutor doesn't pick on them. Now if you are so afraid to even give your own opinion, you should not be at University in the first place.
This is not an attack on shy people. I am aware that we have different personalities, and some might find voicing their opinion in front of people you don't really know more difficult than others. However, I think shyness is not an excuse.
I was previously classed as a shy person that was overly concerned with what others thought of me. When I was doing a Law degree at Queen Mary, I dreaded seminars; partly because I hated the course and usually had not done any work, and partly because the former insecure me thought everyone else in the group was smarter than me, or could offer a better critique. The new confident me can see how crazy that was. It is incredibly self destructive to assume that others are better than you in whatever field if you have no proof, a perfect way to reduce your self esteem to zero. This can have a terrible effect on the way others perceive you, as why would anyone else value your opinion if you don't?
There is a very shy girl in one of my classes, she cannot even look anyone in the eye, let alone make a comment. A few classes back, the tutor asked her directly for her opinion and she could not answer. There was a long (painfully cringe worthy!) pause that she finished with, wait for it "It's hard to explain." Part of me felt for her, bringing back flashes of my days at Queen Mary. Another part of my thought "Come on now, you're at least eighteen years of age, a young adult. Don't you think it's time you grew a back bone and made your voice heard?"
No one should give a toss about what other people think of them, if you do, you are not really living, all you are doing is placing restrictions on yourself. Even if everyone else disagrees with you, so what? at least you have said something no matter how stupid or insignificant it may be. After all, you're in University now, so speak up!!!!!!!!!!!
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