That’s a really honest and thoughtful question — and you’ve already done something brave by opening up about it. 🌱

Feeling anxious or hesitant to engage with new people — especially in situations like club interviews or group settings — is incredibly common, even among very confident-looking people. You’re not alone in feeling this way.

Let’s break this down and work through it step-by-step, in a way that’s practical and gentle 👇

🧩 1. Understand What’s Happening

What you’re describing — hesitation before entering, freezing when put on the spot — usually comes from a mix of:

  • Social anxiety (fear of being judged or making mistakes)
  • Overthinking outcomes (“What if I mess up?”)
  • Lack of experience (you haven’t had enough safe, positive interactions yet)

The good news? This isn’t a fixed personality trait. It’s a learnable skill, just like coding, design, or lab work.

🌱 2. Start Small — Build “Social Stamina”

You don’t need to jump straight into club interviews. Begin with tiny, low-pressure steps:

  • Say “Hi” or “Good morning” to classmates or lab mates.
  • Ask a simple question: “Do you know what topic this lab covers?”
  • Stay a few minutes after class and make small talk about an assignment or teacher.
  • Sit with someone new in the mess or library once in a while.

These short interactions teach your brain: “Talking to people isn’t dangerous.” Over time, your anxiety level before social situations will naturally drop.

💬 3. Prepare Simple Conversation Starters

When meeting new people or in interviews, it helps to have a few ready lines. You can start with:

  • “Hey, are you also from first year MME?”
  • “I was thinking of joining this club, have you been here before?”
  • “That was a great presentation — how long did it take you to make it?”

You don’t need fancy words. The goal is just to get the conversation moving — people appreciate genuine curiosity.

🧠 4. Reframe the PI (Personal Interview)

Instead of seeing it as a test, think of it as a conversation. They’re not trying to reject you — they’re trying to see who’s interested, curious, and willing to learn.

If you feel too nervous:

  • Remind yourself: “They’re students too, not judges.”
  • Before entering, take one slow deep breath — in for 4 seconds, out for 4 seconds.
  • Even if you stutter or forget something, smile and continue. Nobody expects perfection from a first-year student.

🧍‍♂️ 5. Try Gradual Exposure

If your instinct stops you before entering the room — don’t force yourself fully in the first time. Try:

  • Standing near the club room once or twice, just observing.
  • Next time, walk up to the door and peek in.
  • Then, talk to one member casually outside (“Hey, I wanted to know how your club works.”).
  • Eventually, step inside.

You’ll find each stage gets a little easier.

🧩 6. Practice Speaking Comfortably

You can improve this skill privately first:

  • Record yourself answering small prompts (“Introduce yourself”, “Why MME?”).
  • Practice in front of a mirror or with one trusted friend.
  • Join online speaking clubs (like Toastmasters Youth, or college communication clubs) later.

💚 7. Be Kind to Yourself

You don’t have to be the most talkative person to succeed. What matters is:

  • You’re aware of your challenge.
  • You’re trying to grow.
  • You’re doing it at your own pace.

Even confident speakers often started exactly where you are now.

🌤️ Small Challenge (if you’d like to start this week):

Try just one of these:

  • Say “Hi” to one new person in your class or hostel.
  • Attend one club meet just to observe, not to participate.
  • Ask one question in class or lab.

That’s it. It’s not about doing it perfectly — it’s about showing up once. Then again next week.

If you’d like, I can help you write a small self-introduction or PI answer script that sounds natural and confident for club interviews — so you’ll feel more prepared before entering.

Would you like me to help you with that?

Perfect 👍 — let’s make this as easy and comfortable as possible for you.

We’ll start by creating a simple, natural self-introduction and then a few sample answers you can use in a club PI (personal interview) or when meeting new people. You can tweak them later to match your real personality — the idea is to sound like yourself, just a calmer, more confident version.

🪞 Step 1: Your Self-Introduction (base script)

When you walk into a PI or club room, they usually say:

“Tell us about yourself.”

You can use this structure 👇

🌟 Example:

“Good evening! I’m [Your Name], a first-year student from Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. I’m originally from [Your City/State]. I joined MME because I’m interested in how materials shape technology — from steel to semiconductors. I enjoy learning new things, and I’m looking to explore areas beyond academics, which is why I’m interested in joining this club — to improve my skills and meet new people.”

🧩 Why it works:

✅ It’s short (around 30–40 seconds) ✅ Sounds natural and calm ✅ Shows curiosity and willingness to learn ✅ Doesn’t require big achievements

You can practice this in front of a mirror or record yourself — just to get comfortable hearing your own voice.

🗣️ Step 2: Common PI Questions and How to Answer Them

Here are 5 common questions and example answers. You can memorize the ideas, not the exact lines.

1️⃣ Why do you want to join this club?

“I want to step out of my comfort zone and learn to communicate better with people. I think being part of a club will help me gain teamwork experience and improve my confidence.”

👉 Shows honesty and self-awareness — interviewers love that.

2️⃣ What are your strengths?

“I’m sincere and willing to learn. I may take some time to open up, but once I’m comfortable, I work well with others and give my best to whatever I’m doing.”

👉 Balances modesty and positivity.

3️⃣ What are your weaknesses?

“I’m a bit shy when meeting new people, but I’ve started taking small steps to improve that — like participating in discussions and trying to talk to new classmates.”

👉 Shows growth mindset — you acknowledge it and are working on it.

4️⃣ What do you expect from this club?

“I want to learn how to work in a team, handle real-life situations, and contribute to events. I’m also excited to learn from seniors and make new friends.”

5️⃣ Do you have any questions for us?

“Yes — I’d love to know how a first-year student like me can start contributing if selected.”

👉 Shows interest and initiative.

💡 Step 3: Calming Yourself Before Entering the Room

If you feel that instinct stopping you before going in — try this small trick:

  1. Breathe in slowly for 4 seconds.
  2. Hold for 2 seconds.
  3. Breathe out slowly for 4 seconds.
  4. As you exhale, say silently: “I’m just going to talk. Nothing more.”

You don’t need to convince yourself you’re confident. Just act like someone who’s curious — curiosity feels lighter than confidence.

🧘 Step 4: Mental Shift — You’re Not “Performing”

Remember:

  • They want you to succeed.
  • You’re not being judged like in an exam.
  • You’re there to learn, not to prove yourself.

Even if you stammer, forget, or say something simple — it’s okay. What matters is you showed up. That’s already something most people don’t do.

Would you like me to tailor this intro and answers specifically for a type of club you’re thinking of joining (like a technical, cultural, or social service club)? That way, I can make the script sound more fitting to the environment you’ll face.