Has anyone else had this problem?

It's not really how things work, is it? It doesn't seem to be working. Maybe you should just overcome your intial shyness and fear of talking to the others after school and just join in! I know you will enjoy the company and comraderi! If you know it is wrong then that is the first step to opening up. Good luck ;)Pia

Yep, remember it well. It gets better with time, although slowly. Partly it's a matter of working out that you're fine and life makes all sorts of folks and we don't all have to be party animals. And then you stop caring about the fear and the little demon goes away and bothers someone else instead. Something like that ... But give it time - although I know that's not a very satisfactory answer. Rob