Friends

The socializing agent that has changed me the most is probably my peer group. I grew up as a really quiet kid, all through kindergarten and elementary school. I was one of those few "awkward kids" that had maybe one or two friends. We were those stereotypical weirdos that always got picked last in gym class as the team captains narrowed the pool of kids down one by one.

The biggest change in my peer group occurred when I entered middle school. We had two elementary schools feed into this school, so I only recognized half the kids on the first day of school. This was my chance to turn a new leaf, and that's what I [somewhat] did. I found myself with a new circle of friends, and I started to get socialized by them. Awkward Austin became Not-As-Bad Austin as I started to use instant messengers, hang out with friends, and learn how to speak my mind. I also became more interested in sports.

Of course, it wasn't a complete change in mindset/behavior. I still remained silent in class(heh..) and sat like a sponge absorbing information. I also preferred to stay within my circle of friends, not experimenting out of my safety zone. (Girls were scary)

If my group of friends didn't change after elementary school, there definitely would be a different Austin than there is now. For one thing, I wouldn't be a gymnast. Although my older brother played a big role in encouraging me to join my freshman year, my friends were the ones that actually got me to join and try my hardest. This wasn't because they also encouraged me; instead, they told me I wasn't strong enough and that I would never make it through the season. I love a good challenge.