Kaylin, great post. I enjoyed the art you have shared in the past, but it's good to see you adding a different type of value to the site as well.

There is a lot of truth to the idea that confidence is learned. When I was six years old, my mother signed me up for piano lessons; I was naturally shy, yet part of the course requirement was having to perform on stage. For years, I threw up before every performance, but to make it through, there was no way to go but forward. That experience allowed me to build the confidence I otherwise wouldn't have had.

I'm now able to present important project findings to audiences of senior leadership at work, post my original writing to be read by hundreds of thousands on Wattpad, and speak publicly or lead tours as needed, all without letting my (still natural) shyness win out.

It was a long road, and it started early, but I got here under my own power — thanks to being put outside of my comfort zone.