I’ve been doing my best to consciously make an effort to act in ways that are more conducive to socialization. I’m a relatively introverted person, but I’d like to put myself out there and get to know more people. Being as painfully self-aware as I am, I’ve been going against my nature—stepping out of my comfort zone, and working to actively engage with people. Today, I was sitting on a bench in the historic park of my campus when I noticed this really beautiful person. I wanted to say something to them so badly, but I just couldn’t bring myself to do it, so I sat there longingly. To my surprise, as they were getting up to leave, they stopped to compliment the Tripp pants I was wearing. I returned the compliment, clumsily commenting on the embroidered Doc Martens she was wearing, and then she walked off. It was a pleasant interaction, but I was left wondering what might have happened if I had been brave enough to introduce myself. If I see them again and recognize them, I’ll try to make a point of doing at least that. Later, while having lunch in the outdoor seating area of my favorite on-campus Mexican restaurant, a classmate of mine greeted me and asked what our professor had lectured about last class (since she had to miss it). I realized I couldn’t recall which class we actually shared, so I made my best guess and told her what had been covered in my last Intercultural Communications lecture. WRONGGGGG. I was wrong (༼;´༎ຶ ۝ ༎ຶ༽). She let me know we’re in Human Growth and Development together, and I corrected myself, telling her we had gone through developmental milestones of infants in the first 12 months. She had her young son with her—he couldn’t have been more than 7 years old. He had a little Spider-Man plush he was playing with while his mom had to remind him to keep eating his tacos. We talked about how they’d taken away her financial aid and denied both her appeals. I couldn’t help but hurt for them in that moment—a mother just trying to make a better life for herself and her son. That’s when it dawned on me that this whole time, I hadn’t even bothered to ask her name （＞д＜）. That horrible, creeping feeling started in my chest and throat. All I wanted was to ask her name?! I hate how paralyzing social anxiety can feel in the most ordinary situations. I sat there with that meaningless dread gnawing in me until she finally gathered her things to leave. As she was about to walk away, she said goodbye, and I replied—but just then I finally managed to blurt out: “What was your name again?” And at last, I knew the name of the person I’d been going to class with for three weeks. Social anxiety defeated! (ง ͠ ᵒ̌ Дᵒ̌ )▬▬ι═══════ﺤ To end the day, I hung out with a really good friend and we had a long chat about her parents and a trip to a distant land, plus our usual existential philosophizing. I told her about my new acquaintance from class and how it bummed me out at first because of how sad her situation was—but in light of my goal to be less antisocial, I re-framed the encounter. I realized how grateful I was that someone I didn’t really know felt comfortable enough to confide in me. I told my friend about my goal to be more approachable and less gloomy, and she said she’s never really perceived me that way—just as being really sensitive, which she admires. It was really sweet. I had a good day today. And I think I’m starting to see the world in a different way.