The bonds of silence can often mask the most unique of personalities and make them seem bland or even boring. I understand that feeling of being trapped in a box and not being able to ask for help or reach out to someone. Being quiet is not in itself a negative quality, but consistent silence can prove to be problematic. Everyone needs someone to talk to and bounce ideas off of because when you don't share your ideas or talk to people, it prevents others from being able to see what you are truly capable of and improving yourself. There are three primary reasons why not having a voice is, in my estimation, a negative quality: firstly, it makes me seem as though my intention is to avoid social interaction. Secondly, I am unable to portray my true potential to my instructors and others around me. Lastly, I am unable to differentiate myself from those around me and properly illustrate my unique personality.
I often get nervous talking aloud or speaking with people that I don't know very well. I know that it is imperative to break this habit. Some students might not feel comfortable expressing their ideas or even trying new things and stepping out of their comfort zone, I know this to be a major personal obstacle that I strive to work on. I have been attending NVCC since 2010, and while I don't feel that I have yet to obtain a true voice, I remain committed to changing that. .
I talk to people more often now, I'm not as shy. I now constantly find myself sharing ideas, as well as reaching out for help with my work and personal anxieties. When tasked with an assignment quieter students might think that their ideas or work won't be as good as those of their peers. This is when they often shift their view from succeeding to merely passing a class by getting by; an outlook that often leads to sustained failure. Students, or even non-students, that experience this sense of anxiety must be brave and try to come forward, overcoming their fears of what other people think, and do what they enjoy and share their ideas.
