Member-only story
How to find dates and make friends
Even if you’re a little shy or socially awkward
I was a socially awkward, shy teen.
There were several reasons for this. I’m a nerd. I’d often read a book or wander in my own head than talk to people. Particularly strangers. And I don’t always pick up on social cues.
It’s not that I don’t care. I’m actually a very compassionate, kind person. But my antenna is tuned to a different wavelength.
Yet none of that gives me an excuse not to try.
Adults can’t expect others to cater to them. We are all responsible for managing our own lives. Whether it’s learning to do our own laundry, pay our own bills or doing the maintenance on our vehicles, adults need to take care of their own basics. Social interactions are no different. You can’t expect others to do all the work. Being entitled is not attractive.
Unfortunately, I had no idea how to navigate the social landscape when I went to college. Fortunately, I went to MIT.
I found many other socially awkward teens during my freshman year. Some of them were even more clueless than I was! It was the perfect environment for me to gradually grow my nascent social abilities. Over the next 4 years, I learned the skills I needed to overcome much of my awkwardness.
