Serious thread time

[Elephly]

Disclaimer: If you don't like reading walls of text, you'd better leave now.

Oi, so basically, I'm the kind of guy who's got some talent in a lot of areas, but I am pretty bad at dealing with social situations. I've been like this since elementary school I think. I pretty much feel super awkward when dealing with people I don't know very well and as a result, my life has been a lot less eventful and spectacular than it probably could be. I have never taken chances and don't put myself out there because I am afraid of anything that anyone might think of me (I guess). I hate this because it's why I've been unemployed my whole life, why I've never had a girlfriend, and why I don't have many friends.
So the reason why I am telling you about this problem is because just about an hour ago I checked my school e-mail and got something that for most people couldn't make them happier. It was an e-mail from my faculty congratulating me about my grades from first semester and inviting me to apply for a paid position as a research assistant for a prof over the summer. As I was reading this the first time, I was really just laughing at how I got such recognition, thinking the whole time, "that's awesome, too bad I'm not going to take it." But then as I was reading it a second time aloud to my mom and dad, ideas started running through my mind about how I'm now at the age where I should stop bullshitting and take this thing, and the fact that I was reading it to my parents was pretty much setting me up for commitment (even though I had thought of it more as a joke at first). I started getting really worried and panicky and just accepted the whole thing pretty much, downloading the application to fill out for next week.
It's looking like things are getting so serious now, and I don't know how I'll be able to handle it. The e-mail said how I should write about my enthusiasm and motivation that stand out from the rest in order to get accepted. I also need to pick a preferred prof and talk to him about being his assistant and such. Everything is just so out of scope for what I am normally able to handle.
What do I do newgrounds? It's looking like I'm walking into this thing and the next few months of my life are gonna be miserable. But I know if I don't I'll probably regret it. I'm so scared.

Talk about beta...

[TrueLAD]

At 1/31/13 11:48 PM, Elephly wrote: Disclaimer: If you don't like reading walls of text, you'd better leave now.

Laters!

[Elephly]

At 1/31/13 11:52 PM, Revoke wrote: Ok then.

At 1/31/13 11:52 PM, TrueLAD wrote: Laters!

Kinda expected this to happen.

[Elephly]

At 1/31/13 11:54 PM, hiddeninthecrowd wrote: whyd you post

.

[Saen]

Take the position or just keep on suckling.

[Elephly]

At 1/31/13 11:55 PM, Elephly wrote:

At 1/31/13 11:54 PM, hiddeninthecrowd wrote: whyd you post

.

But for real this is serious.

At 1/31/13 11:56 PM, Saen wrote: Take the position or just keep on suckling.

Yep, options.

[LittleWashu]

You wanted to have a serious conversation on the NG BBS? seriously you earned this one.

[HipnikDragomir]

I'm like you. Every time I'm faced with something serious like that, I get worried. I'm not sure why. I say do it. Getting a job these days is a real accomplishment.

[DickChick]

Sounds like you have some social anxiety man, but think of this as an opportunity. Over the next few months you'll be forced to communicate and interact with people on a level that you haven't had to previously. This will help improve your social skills. The more you socialize the better you'll get at it, just like any other skill. You don't want to overdo but just put your head down and get it done, you'll get used to it.

If the anxiety is really affected your life so much that this is miserable, you might want to consider getting professional help as well. If it's so bad that it stops you from having an enjoyable life there's no shame in getting a little help.