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HushFest is on the horizon. Cornwall’s festival of quietness, shaped by our community. |
Social anxiety is a deeply human experience that affects people from all walks of life—students, professionals, and everyday individuals alike. It’s not just about feeling shy; it’s an intense fear of social interactions, rooted in a concern about being judged, embarrassed, or misunderstood. This fear often leads to avoidance, creating a cycle of isolation and…
I remember, in the first few weeks of secondary school sitting on the stairs crying at the idea that I had to keep doing this secondary school thing for the next 7 years. I said something like “secondary school is school with all the fun zapped out of it”. It was all grades, grades, grades…
You can help if you have been a student at, or worked in any role within, a UK Secondary School. We’re researching quiet students’ experiences within UK secondary schools, with the aim of collecting enough data to better understand and raise awareness about the challenges that quiet students in schools face, with the intention of…
Speaking in a group as a shy student at school was a problem for me. One of the worst experiences I can remember is the speaking exam I had to do for GCSE English which involved having a discussion in a group of four students and the teacher. I could usually respond verbally if I…
I have two vivid memories of feeling anonymous from my school days. My first experience occurred when I was 15 and I had signed up to the school’s House Music competition. The deputy head of my house – who was involved in organising our performance – also happened to be my English teacher and had…
‘You’re like talking to a brick wall’. I probably was like talking to a brick wall – I suppose there was an element of truth to it. However, was this the right response from my teacher? And did it actually achieve anything? Well, in short – no! Of course, it didn’t have any impact at all on…
Age 22, I am due to present my dissertation at University. I feel sick with anxiety. Thankfully, this is not an assessed part of the course and I am given an exemption. As a shy, socially anxious student, presentations had always been a nightmare for me, and it wasn’t until my postgraduate studies that I…
Get your Student Resource Pack here Rose Burch Hi friend. Welcome to the Quiet Connections podcast. Do you feel anxious and not good enough in social situations? Feel like you’re weird, broken or don’t fit in? You are not alone. Join Haley and Stacie on a journey to quiet confidence. Picking up key insights to…
Returning to my old school, I hardly recognise it. The familiar building has been replaced with a sleek, university-like structure, and few of the faces are familiar. But it has been 12 years. Signing in at reception, surrounded by other visitors, I’m struck by how intimidating this place would have been to my 11-year-old self,…
University life is often romanticised as a period of freedom, self-discovery, and academic pursuit. However, for many students, it can also be a time of significant stress and anxiety. A report by Graham Russell and Steve Shaw from Plymouth University delves into the impact of social anxiety on student well-being and learning, shedding light on…