School can be a weird place because there's so much going on-you're not just there to attend class, but you generally have to interact with a lot of different people through working with classmates on projects, answering teachers' questions and walking down crowded halls in between classes. And then there might be the issue of lunch-who to sit with and where to sit. It can be overwhelming, especially because there are often complicated issues with popularity and cliques.

Are you more comfortable being outgoing and "the life of the party" than you are being shy? While you don't need to be the center of attention in all your classes, consider just being friendly to the people you sit next to in class, for example. One idea might be to not focus on yourself and whatever is making you feel shy; concentrate on the other person and what is interesting about her or him. Many times, even though you feel self-conscious, other people can't tell. They may even be self-conscious themselves and might be really glad that you started talking to them first. Everyone feels shy at one point or another-the key is to not let it stop you from doing things or meeting other people.