Growing up as a shy girl who preferred to observe and blend into the background, making friends and participating in class was difficult for me. I used to feel scared and insecure when answering questions in front of the whole cohort, often fearing that my answers were wrong or that I would go blank and embarrass myself.
To overcome this, I started preparing extra hard for classes, studying and jotting down notes on my classmates' discussions. Knowing that I had a good grasp of the content gave me the confidence to raise my hand more often. Slowly, I became more comfortable speaking up and discovered that I genuinely enjoyed sharing my opinions when I felt prepared and less anxious.
It was a slow and steady journey, but persisting in preparing diligently for every class helped me gain more self-assurance and overcome fear of participation. Looking back, I realized that putting myself out there and facing those challenges were important steps towards discovering my voice and gaining confidence. It's a lesson that has served me well, and I continue to draw strength from those experiences today.