Will I fit in at Reed?

keffkollective
Sat, 15 Nov 2014 07:17:46 +0000

There are many versions of socially awkward. When I first meet people, I can be completely overwhelmed and unable to talk at all, or put on a mask of fake confidence and talk too much and too loudly. If I can’t figure out how to make small talk in the first 30 seconds with someone, it typically goes downhill.

I have a sibling who also goes to Reed, he sometimes just hides from people he’s afraid of (for example, he’ll try going in the vicinity of his adviser’s office for days. He only works up the courage to actually do so when there’s literally no other choice.).

My friends are often shy, and have difficulty talking to or working with people they don’t already know. It’s kind of hard to describe socially awkward, since people are so awkward in different ways (just the way some people talk is sometimes awkward.)

Anyways, all the international students I know who I can think of typically hang out with an “intenational students group.” From what I’ve seen, international students (like any other) are more likely to stick with people in their dorm, major, or other group. They might have a couple of other international friends, but don’t exclusively associate with internationals. The one exception I’ve seen is the language scholars – but they aren’t exactly normal students. That said, I’m not in that group and so only have an outsider’s insight.