Overcoming shyness and inferiority on campus. Society is teeming with different characters and personalities, budding from diverse factors externally and internally. As our faces differ, so does every other thing that makes us unique. Higher institutions of learning such as; universities, colleges, mono, and polytechnics. Bring young adults from all works of life into smaller units (faculties and departments) and demand that they interact.
This interaction ranges from formal to informal settings within the schooling environment. For instance, a student called upon by a lecturer to do a course presentation requires the student to interact with the general classroom. This could be more of a semi-formal setting anyway, depending on the seriousness. Your interaction must be made at different levels; in classes, church, mosque, fraternities, etc. Now, your ability to do these social interactions adequately may depend on several factors, and likewise, this article intends to discuss the inability to interact.
Shyness as an Offshoot of Inferiority Complex.
A myriad of factors can cause a young adult to become shy and withdrawn. A similar but usually internally related situation is what is called “Social anxiety disorder”. Where a person fears or feels overly anxious about social situations, that are generally disproportionate to the magnitude of the social situation. A socially anxious person feels the overwhelming need to avoid social gatherings. Simply because he or she fears that he/she will be judged unfairly, they are often preoccupied with boring or offending people.
This is a bad mental place to be in. Shyness on the other hand is more about being reserved around people, usually fueled by some sort of anxiousness. As anxious as they may be, however, they are not debilitated by their discomfort around people. And they can more easily overcome social interactions without much pain, as opposed to a person with Social anxiety disorder. So it is safe to say while they are both similar in primary nature, they are not similar in manifestation. We can also say that Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is a more chronic and clinical issue, while shyness is less critical in terms of control.
So many young people are shy, and some young adults underperform when they are given tasks. Especially when it involves interactions of any sort – that is, going out to establish any form of profitable relations with people. Within and outside the school community; because they have serious underlying issues of inadequacies within themselves. This is what makes them withdrawn and generally avoidant, you cannot afford to be shy in school. When practically every one of your affairs is hinged on self-expression, interactions with the larger community of students.
How Can You Spot Inferiority Complex In A Young Adult?
- Self Criticism: No one is saying that you should not do some introspection at different times you know? There is however an unhealthy way to be a critic of your own self. From time to time, everyone should evaluate their thoughts and actions. You know that the healthy line is being crossed when someone does not get to say nice things about themselves. They judge themselves too harshly, they do not extend grace to themselves, and in the long run, it is self-harm. If you failed to perform well on a test or an exam at school, in a bid to be introspective, do not fail to spot where your mistakes originated from and correct them. People with an inferiority complex see their failures as defining factors of who they are. So typical of a self-acclaimed ‘failure’, they run!
- Constant Comparison: Persons with this complex are always dissatisfied with the outcome of whatever venture they indulge in. They set their eyes on others and judge themselves by those standards, forgetting that they have different realities; every aboki with im own kettle. A person who constantly compares himself or herself with others will always feel inadequate. In the university community, it is so common to see students with what I’d called ‘big eye’ in Nigerian parlance, always looking at other people’s things.
- Limited Social Interaction: This is precisely what the bulk of this article dwells on. You can spot a person with this complex from a mile away when you notice that they shy away from any and every social event. They would come up with a thousand and one reasons why they should be left in the comfort of their rooms, they would come up with excuses as to why they cannot deliver a keynote speech. The list of excuses is endless for the person with this complex.
Introvert and shyness, Are they the same?
It is worth noting that a person who is naturally introverted may exhibit a few of the above signs. however, it is not quite the cake! Introvert is deeply introspective and usually prefers to be alone with their thoughts. Not because they feel inadequate but because they find more meaning to their own existence that way. Students often interchange these two terms, oftentimes excusing themselves from social responsibilities by claiming to be introverts. No! While a shy person can be introverted sometimes, an introvert is not always a shy person.
Now take a deep breath and look at yourself! Do you find that you exhibit these signs? If you
do, you are not alone as many Nigerian students even students from other races encounter
this challenge. This brings us to how we can overcome this menace practicably(Overcoming shyness and inferiority on campus.)
Practical Ways To Overcome Inferiority Complex.
Accept Yourself.
In a song by Alessia Cara (Scars to your beautiful) she says; No better you than the you that you are… As cliché as that might sound, it is a fact. Accepting yourself means accepting the entirety of your being, your quirks, your pains, your deformities, and your beauty too. Basically, accept the good, the bad, and the ugly parts of you. Mind you, this in no way encourages complacency and mediocrity. Strive to be better versions of you, while also loving the parts you have little control of. In school, your focus should be on your own self, not on what your roommate has and has not. Accept you!
Self Awareness.
Our cultural wisdom advises, “Know yourself to avoid misfortune.” Recognize the allure in differing attitudes and tendencies. Although your roommate may share physical similarities, it is crucial to comprehend that they are not an extension of yourself. Overcoming feelings of inferiority necessitates understanding and acknowledging the complexities of your own existence. Many young adults attend school only to lose sight of their true identity. They immerse themselves in the personalities of others, causing them to become adrift in the vast ocean of university life if they lack self-awareness.
Practice Self Care/Grooming.
A great way to boost your confidence is in the practice of self-care. Self-care can be in the form of exercising, meditation, grooming – personal hygiene. Studies have shown that grooming boosts the self-esteem of anyone, i.e. when you know you look good, there’s this assuring feeling within yourself, that you can conquer the world. As little as this looks, it goes a long way in helping a person with an inferiority problem. So it would take a conscious effort on your part to look good, to smell good. When you do so, Overcoming shyness and inferiority on campus will be sliding out of you gradually. watch the world become your runway.
Embrace Your Strengths.
Do not be preoccupied with your failures, do not dwell on them for great strength lies in you. For instance, if you do not do well at night reading, that is okay, stick to day reading and maximize your night times for adequate rest. Embrace your daytime reading as a strength rather than feel bad about not being able to study at night.
SEE ALSO: Must I Attend Night Class to Pass Exams in Nigerian Universities?
Practice talking in class.
This is not to say become a noise maker in class you know, this is a call to indulge in profitable class discussions, ask questions and answer questions. Do not say you know the answer but you keep shut about it. Answer questions, fail the answers if you have to, but the veil of shyness will fall off
your face little by little. Practice makes perfect after all. This will help in Overcoming shyness and inferiority on campus.
Build A Network Of Confident People.
All of the above points have been individual-centered, so this is a bonus. Generally, people have tendencies to pick up traits here and there, why not get yourself surrounded by people with who you aspire to be confident like? At the very least, if you’re picking up a trait, pick profitable ones right?
To sum it up, it is essential for you to embrace the fact that you are distinct from others. This dissimilarity should not be perceived as a sign of weakness or lack of foresight; rather, it is simply a characteristic that sets you apart. Stepping out of your comfort zone during your school years serves as valuable preparation for significant responsibilities in the vast realm of the world. I encourage you to embark on the path of exploration without shame, as the world holds limitless opportunities for you to seize.
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