<p>i really want to go somewhere far away i hate where i live and i feeel like i have no adventure just staying in one place all the time, and if i wasn't a nervous goober i'd go away to school no doubt. but i've been worrying that if i do that i might end up like lonely and depressed and ahh! i used to have really bad social anxiety problems like i would throw up when things made me nervous. though i have managed to get over that part of it, and now it's not quite as bad. but i'm scared that if i go to college i might get that bad again and freak out and i don't wanna... but on the other hand i feel like being forced to face my fears everyday would gradually make it so that i would be no longer shy at all. and my parents made me go to a new school once where i didn't know anyone for sixth grade, and while at first it was scary i did eventually make friends.. but it takes me a long long looooonngggg time to be comfortable around people, and in college it may be even harder cuz i don't get the feeling there is as much like forced interaction as high school... i'd have to be outgoinnnng and seek out people to talk to.. eek. but has anyone else experienceddd this? is it a bad idea, or a good idea? i live in texas and would ideally like to go somewhere on the west coast... so pretty far.</p>
<p>in college everyone is meeting new people. Just leave your door open and don’t be afraid to have a conversation if someone starts talking to you. It might be hard to make friends at first, but even people with social anxiety make friends. Plus, just because you stay close to home doesn’t guarantee you friends, the people you know are going off to college too.</p>
<p>I don’t think its a bad idea at all, hon. I think it will do you a ton of good to get out there and experience something new at a college away from home. I understand what you mean about being so shy, very much so. There has been times I’d get so nervous and anxious about something due to my shyness that my lips have turned blue and I’d shake. Tears aren’t uncommon either.</p>
<p>But stepping out of that comfort zone, though a step-by-step process, has done me a world of good. Everyday is better and better, and I notice that most of my improvements in conquering my shyness are when I’m away from home. I’m not in that safety zone of comfort, the safe, the familiar. I’m not saying there aren’t moments where you’re homesick or more shy than that first day of kindergarten years ago. But it gets easier. :)</p>
<p>I think, if you feel it is right for you, than it is a good idea.</p>
<p>I know it’s tough to make new friends, especially those of us who don’t talk to new people easily. It might take a while, but you will adjust. It took me until midway through the second semester of my freshmen year to make friends. Fortunately, some of my friends from high school went to the same school as me, so I was able to make a gradual transition into making new friends. </p>
<p>Do you have a hobby? Maybe there is a club on campus for that hobby. Maybe you can find someone in your major to study with. Maybe you can play a pick up game of basketball or something. </p>
<p>I truly sympathize with you. I still sometimes get freaked out when meeting new people, but it does get better. You basically have to train yourself to stay calm. It may take longer to make friends, but that can also help you build better friendships, because you can take your time and pace yourself in getting to know people. </p>
<p>So, I say that it’s perfectly fine to go away to school if you’re shy. It won’t be easy, but it’s doable. </p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>As someone else who gets really anxious in social situations, I think it would be a good idea to get out of your comfort zone. I’m going away to college where I didn’t know anyone (though I’ve already met some cool people through orientation) though one of my best friends is going to the same city which helps. The thing is I know if I don’t push myself I’ll never get better, so I think it’s good that I’m putting myself in a challenging situation. If you’re like me I think you’ll feel better about your decision if you push yourself to come out of your shell to give yourself more and better opportunities later on.</p>
<p>go for it! youll be surprised how easy it is to meet people? get out ! college is a lot of hard work but a ton of fun!</p>
<p>I used to be pretty shy myself, and college really helped me. Now I like to think that I’m only occasionally awkward, rather than awkward all the time. You also will meet a lot of people in college, of all kinds, but some of which who are REALLY, REALLY awkward (probably more than you thought humanly possible), and meeting those people helped me feel better about myself, lol. It may seem scary, but you’ll be happy you did it a few years down the road.</p>