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A story about an international student having a difficult time making friends at university due to their social anxiety.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"2f3d20fb-11fe-48bc-a5e2-732ce8f8d284"},"title":"Come Out of Your Shell by Anonymous"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"

Moving overseas to a completely different society and culture can be overwhelming, especially when it's two different perspectives entirely. Growing up in Dubai, I was used to the comfort and the ease of making friends and having people around me; I was always a social person. Upon coming here, I had no friends and although there were various opportunities that allowed you to make friends (such as OWeek), I rarely participated because I let my anxiety get in the way of making my decisions. There were days during my first few months where I would starve and sit in my room because I was too afraid to even say \"hi\" to my roommates. <\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"0c2afc31-252e-41b1-ad39-172fea760d1c"},"title":"The Wicked Problem"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"

I overcame my problem after I made one friend. This friend really pushed me out of my comfort zone and enabled me to voice my concerns and how I feel so she could help me. In turn, I also decided to get involved in clubs and groups which I feel is the one place where my confidence skyrocketed. I was able to make friends easily and actually build connections beyond what I expect back home. I was able to engage in small talk as well as reach the in-depth parts of a conversation to actually get to know another person. I also ran into someone at a bus stop and randomly invited her to my place the same night. She asked if she could invite her roommates and I was more than happy to have more company. Today, the 4 of us are roommates which is an amazing feeling looking back. <\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"662d655c-8cd0-4168-b0aa-d5d426304838"},"title":"Finding a Solution"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"

I feel as a university student it can be extremely challenging to make friends because all of us are used to having our own 'squads' but word of advice, expand more. You never know what is on the other side of the rainbow if you don't complete the journey.<\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"e82e021d-d42b-4edc-a75d-430b0ebdf9c8"},"title":"Final Thoughts"},{"content":{"params":{"text":"

Come Out of Your Shell<\/em>. (2021, October 26). Liberated Learners. <\/span>https:\/\/wicked.liberatedlearner.ca\/collaborator\/come-out-of-your-shell\/<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n"},"library":"H5P.AdvancedText 1.1","metadata":{"contentType":"Text","license":"U","title":"Untitled Text"},"subContentId":"b4766196-7c8e-4cfd-90f3-7f88283b3233"},"title":"APA Reference"}],"hTag":"h2"}

Come Out of Your Shell

Liam Peart