5 Tips on How to Overcome Shyness in Class

by: Jasmine Gage '25

 

As a student myself, I understand the internal pressure that comes with speaking in class. You may feel as if everyone is watching you and that may cause your confidence in the answers to decrease. Or you may just be an introvert and participating in class might scare you. All of those emotions you may be feeling are completely valid and you shouldn’t have any doubt about them. Being shy in class is a normal circumstance for most college students and these 5 tips are a start on how to overcome shyness in class!

 

1: You’re Not Alone

The first thing you always want to remember is that you are not alone. One thing I always remember whenever I’m feeling a tad bit shy in class is how my peers could also have the same thoughts. Everyone has that uneasy feeling of being nervous even when you think otherwise. Try to keep in mind that being shy in class doesn’t single you out in any way and that your peers could be feeling that same emotion.

 

2: All Questions Are Valid

For most people, especially myself, shyness usually comes from bad social experiences. You feel as if asking a simple question could be the ground-rules on judgment; however, that’s completely false. If you are unsure about something in class, usually your classmates are also feeling the exact same way. Try asking the question that comes to mind during class, no matter how complex or simple it may be. You could be helping someone else in class, too!

 

3: You’re In a Safe Space

Here at McKendree, every professor on campus always makes sure that their learning environment is a comfortable safe space for you to ask questions or participate in discussions. It's one of the things I’ve always loved here and will continue to even after graduation. Even if you still feel uneasy about speaking in class, always feel free to talk to your professors one-on-one. Learn their office hours, stop by, and have a conversation with them about your shyness. Your professors will understand where you may be coming from since they were also in your shoes before.

 

4: Practice Speaking Up

When it comes to wanting to overcome your shyness, it takes time and practice. You always want to make sure that you aren’t pressuring yourself to go from shy to talkative in only one day. To this day, I’m still working on overcoming my shyness, which still sometimes stops me from asking simple questions or even participating in class. To combat shyness, I tend to try starting a conversation with other people, greeting people whenever I see them, and participating during class discussions. You could also try these things as well. Remember to set small goals for yourself when doing so and always try to take small steps so you won’t overstimulate yourself.

 

5: Be Yourself

The one thing I want to end with is to always be yourself! Even if you have these shy tendencies, always remember that it is a part of who you are and never change that for anyone. However, there is nothing wrong with wanting to overcome that shyness due to how you may feel about it on a personal level. Always remember to stay true to yourself and to never let your own fears stop you from becoming the best version of you!