<p>I’m a freshman at TCU and I have social anxiety. I’m a Hispanic male that comes from humble roots and a minority among a mostly upper-class Anglo population. I haven’t had that much friends in my life though I try to find friends in such a “preppy” environment. It’s hard to find friends who are not in the selective Greek life. I don’t consider myself to not joining a fraternity because of a few reasons: (1)My family cannot afford it because of the annual dues (2)I do not think I would “fit in” within any fratenity (3) I would get mistreated in hazing. I’m pretty I would get physically abused in a fratenity for not being Anglo or not wealthy. I’m not sure what groups to join. I sort of just do I’m my own thing and just do my own work or just hang out with a few friends I know.</p>
<p>Try joining a club in something that interests you. You just have to keep trying because you never know when you’ll bump into your new best friend.</p>
<p>Get Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and maybe some medication. Talk to your school’s Health Advisor (or whatever you call it there) about your struggles. Just remember your thoughts are irrational. No one is judging you when you walk around campus or when your doing homework/projects. Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone is not perfect. If you do make a mistake people do not think you are dumb, just move on because others will do the same. Whenever someone, like a professor, gives you advice don’t take it as an insult because they are only trying to help you and it is normal.</p>
<p>I understand your anxiety and it is making my freshman year really hard. Maybe there is a minority group you can join? They usually have get togethers with other groups, and you could meet members of other minorities, not that you have to stick to that group or anything.</p>
<p>Have you been treated for your anxiety? If not, that is the first step. When you begin to feel better about yourself and less anxious overall, the rest of the puzzle will fall into place.</p>
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<p>You sound very arrogant</p>
<p>^ It’s the truth. I’m from the area, and TCU is about as socioeconomically diverse as the Hamptons.</p>
<p>WOW,
you really shouldnt spread unhealthy habits as a way of dealing with social stress. That isnt right.</p>
<p>Okay so far all of these responses have given off the WRONG idea. Drugs and smoking are NOT SOLUTIONS, they are crutches to your social anxiety. I have a similar background as you do and also suffer from some extent of social anxiety. What I say you should do is to find a hispanic or latino club you can join and find some friends that way. You are luckier than me, there are actually high populations of latinos in this country, not many turks for me too meet though. Use your race to your advantage, dont treat it as a disadvantage. </p>
<p>Also not all frats are all white rich people, look for the ones that arent, you may be surprised! For example my school has a scholarly frat which is a “frat for people who hate frats”. Look into everything you can. </p>
<p>Also, most people who werent social in high school arent social in college. Just take your time in finding friends, youll eventually find them.</p>
<p>Anti-depressive medication has worked for me. Check into it.</p>
<p>I wouldn’t suggest smoking (I assume you mean tobacco) as a way to cope, simply cos it’s bloody addictive. I do love it so, but I’m gonna quit next year.</p>
<p>Tobacco is lame, but I suggest ganj</p>
<p>After I started smoking my boobs tripled in size, I got an A in the class I thought I was going to fail, I lost all that baby-fat, and I became funny and outgoing.</p>
<p>@Paul you should read the new surgeon general’s study on cigarettes, no amount of smoking is safe. It’s what’s motivating me to quit. </p>
<p>@individualized see smoking is 
</p>
<p>quitting is ****ing hard hahaha idk what Paulandart is talking about. But i do agree with him, you meet a lot of cool people smoking. It really is a social thing, and at parties I’ve met a lot of cool people by going outside and bumming a cig/sharing a cig with people. </p>
<p>oddly enough, the one thing that led me to quit was the ‘Shards o’ Glass’ anti-smoking commercials haha. i tried quitting once and it worked for about a month and a half, then i smoked for another 3 or so months and right now i’m on day 25 or something without one. its ****ing difficult though</p>
<p>It really is. I don’t even get physical withdrawal symptoms like headaches or crabbiness, I just really enjoy smoking. I like having one with coffee, or having one when I step out the door in the morning.</p>
<p>But in all seriousness…</p>
<p>Friends always ask me if I would like a cig, and as much as I would like to try one, I just never want that temptation. It’s like people who say they’re just going to try coke once. From then on, whenever you think about it, you want it. At least for me, I think I have an obsessive personality.</p>
<p>I popped my cigarette cherry with a Marlboro Red on my 18th birthday. It felt like I was breathing hatred and strife, but the buzz felt so good that I tried a few more throughout the night. One day I felt stressed and lit one up, and since then I’ve had 3 cigarettes a day for so. I did quit for like 4 months because my girlfriend wanted me to, but after we broke up the first thing I did was hit the 7-Eleven for some smokes </p>