I Wish My Teacher Knew... That I Am Shy - Amaya/Biromantic Bison

This is my 7th grade final exam. I had to write about something I wish my teacher knew.

May 25th, 2021

I wish my teacher knew many things about me, as it would make life easier. Alas, life is not meant to be easy. Life is a rollercoaster, a mix of jumbled emotions. And so, I must choose one from many. A tough choice…

One thing I wish my teacher knew about me is that I am shy. Those who know me online would never guess that I prefer reading over speaking, writing over socializing, or playing music over standing up for myself. I am a chatterbox if I do not need to speak words and a petrified victim if I must. I skirted around groups of over three, avoiding eye contact. I never joined in activities that required socializing, and I blended into the background, a single blade of grass in an enormous field. And so, I was a hopeless case until sixth grade when I did one thing that helped.

I signed up for theatre. I do not know why I did so, but maybe something inside of me knew I needed to interact with others. At first, I never spoke to anyone. I kept to myself, only speaking when I needed to. But in theatre, I learned that being shy wouldn’t get me anywhere. I learned to adapt. It wasn’t an immediate change, but I slowly found confidence in myself. I made new friends. I became a better actor and a better person.

Today, I am still shy, as no one can truly rid of their faults. I still prefer reading over speaking, writing over socializing, and playing music over standing up for myself, but I have found the confidence that was buried deep inside of me.