The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1930-05-29
ShyneSs Is
Tragedy of
Adolescence
BY MARTHA LEE

self-consciousness surely is the
I greatest bane Of adolescence. And
when it carries over into manhood
and womanhood it very often turns
into tragedy.
Being shy and bashful, as gen.
eral rule. is part Of being young
That awful nerve wracking habit
Of being fidgety also is a running
mate Of adolescence.
The time TO cure" young boys
and girls of these traits is when
they first show signs of growing up:
There Is nothing so painful to be-
Z hold as an oversensitive. self
conscious young boy or girl. And a
trip to the guillotine would require
less nerve for such youngsters as 1t
does to go to party or, in fact,
Just meet strangers.
Most youngsters are affected this
way. A great many of them are
able to hide it even from their own
parents. because they are TO proud
to allow their shyness to be known.
AS a consequence they put the
bravado on thick, and become
known as forward, bold. young
things. And the poor youngsters
are Just making a lot of noise to
kgep up their own courage.
Go Through Misery
You probably think it sounds
silly, all this talk about young boys
and girls being self-conscious and
shy, but some children, growing into
man and womanhoOd, go through
actual misery when they are forced
TO go out among strangers. # you
don't believe it read this.
Dear Miss Lei am II years old and
almost through high school. We moved
here from a small town about a year ago.
and my senior year was the only year
spent in this high school from which
will graduate in June.
1 am not athleticly inclined. I study
a great deal. but I'm not a book worm.
Now in this year Miss Lee. I haven't made
what you would call real friend, Some
how when I get around a bunch of strang-
ors I Just about choke to death. 1 want
to be friendly but somehow I can't. I'm
not very good looking and so the girls
haven't rushed me. There was one girl
in one of nv classes who was nice to me,
but she scared me Just like the others and
after awhile I guess she thought I was
too much Of a hayseed to bother about.
Thinks He's stick.
NV dad and mother think I'm big
stick. A couple of times they have had
some of their friends bring over their sons
and daughters. who are Just about my
age. get red in the face, and as dumb
as an OK. NV mother and father say
"Look at Bill. blushing like a silly girl"
And then ! get redder and more fused
and probably stumble over piece of furni-
ture and wish I were dead.
Is there anything l can do to be like
other fellows. All the other BOYS at school
seem to make friends all right. without
any trouble. Mother and dad want me
to 90 to college. but I'm afraid I would
Just about die. BILL.
Going to college would be the best
thing that ever. happened to you,
Bill Go TO a coed school, so you
will become accustomed to being in
the company of girls. Your parents
arc not helping to overcome your
basnfulness. Once you are in school,
away from them and on your own
hook to get along as best you can,
loneliness and the necessity of MAX
ing trends viii help you overcome
your tendency to be too self-con-
Scious.
Talk Of Anything
In the meantime, during the
last few weeks of school, why don't
you make it rule to stop and talk
with some clasSmate every day, no
matter how much you want to walk
on past. Simply talk about any,
thing. With graduation coming on
there must be a thousand little
things you could say. Ask the boys
what they intend to do next year. If
any of them are going away to
school. ask about that. Before you
know 1t you will feel at home with
at least a couple of them.
And you might show the little
girl YOU mentioned that you are not
a 'hayseed." Why not ask her to
one of the affairs that are being
given in, connection with graduation
If you are too shy to dance. take her
to class night. You won't have to
bother to talk to her much. She
will be entertained without siren
uouS effort on your part. And you
might have such nice time you
will want to take her out more.
know, Bill. what real agony it
will be for you to get started. But
once you do make few friends you
viii be as popular and sought after