Reply To: Exercise 1: Personal Essay
Eugene,
I find stories like yours from HS fascinating. I was also shy but maybe not as shy as you. I didn’t bother trying to initiate a relationship and instead waited until I practically had no choice but to ask a girl out at age 19. It’s so interesting how we were opposite — you were dedicated to transform your shyness into confidence while I just gradually became more confident (though I’m still far from an extrovert). I strongly relate to your desire to go beyond being liked. You describe my feeling perfectly, “I want people’s lives to be better for having had me in it.” Also like you, I know that “shoulding” people goes nowhere but do it anyway. I hope the next 18 weeks leave us both doing it less.