I Am Shy

Thankfully my son is a little more gregarious than I ever used to be at his age and I'm happy for him because shyness in children can be painful. What I don't like is people who come up with their own ridiculous assumptions about quiet people. Small children, teens and adults can allow remarks to hurt them deeply, and I have lost count of the times I've had people say to me when I was younger that I needed to 'come out of my shell.' While I'm still shy, I try no longer to let it overpower me. Just a part of the reason I wanted to teach, I knew it would help and it has. It's like turning a supposed weakness into a strength, I'm an efficient worker because I do my job and enjoy it, and I can feel empathy with shy children in my class. I never force kids to speak up, I know they will talk when they feel more comfortable, and one good thing about another shy person's new found confidence is that it can rub off in time.