In primary catholic school I was sent in to a room with a priest to confess my none existent sins for the first time. We, all the kids, had been coached on what kinds of things to ask the priest to forgive (i.e.: swearing, telling a lie, teasing, etc.) all things I knew were normal. Even at that young age because I saw and heard those thing everyday from everyone including my teachers, nuns, and priests. I dreaded the moment because it put me in a situation where I had to pretend that I thought this farce was valid. And, although I didn't know it was an indoctrination ceremony at the time, it certainly felt like a fake attempt by the priest to seem sincere. I came out more of an introvert than when I went in.

Summer camp. Being dumped with a bunch of strange kids and expected to make friends and have a great eight weeks. Because I usually had my nose in a book all summer.

Similar experience - being forced to perform in front of the whole school on the musical instrument I was learning at school.

I hated hugging and kissing family I had never met before.

Numerous times my father tried to get me to talk to people he new, always said later that something was wrong with me. Didn't like the fact I didn't like sports, ( really just any team sport I despised), even once referring to me as a pansy.

I picked peppers for the farm next door at 5 or 6 years old, just for fun. Not employed as child labor. I was terrified of the mean Polish Catholic father who owned the farm. He called me over to his house. I was mortified & asked my father to accompany me. My dad made me go alone. Turns out he just wanted to give me the 10 cents I had earned. I learned at 5-6 I was on my own in this world.

Talking to anybody in public, speaking in class, and having to meet people in my dad’s office. I remember hiding behind him.