This is a kinda embrassing question to ask so pls don’t judge.
I did have moments where I like… went to the local library alone, or like an all day school trip or something…
But I never really like… explored outside alone… especially far from home…
So like… I feel scared about the idea of like… just going for a walk all by myself…
I realize I’ve always just asked parents to drive me somewhere so I never got a chance to just get in the habit of being by myself.
I don’t have a driver’s license so I don’t really have like a car to “retreat to”, if you know what I mean, like as in sort of “castle”.
How do I even “feel safe” just being outside on my own? For context I’m non-white so it’s… kinda intimidating… especially in the current context of US political atmosphere.
That awkwardness is the discomfort you should be aiming to feel. It’s just like how when you’re losing weight you should try to be spending a lot of your time kinda hungry or how when you’re building muscle you should be aiming to be sore the morning after a workout. Awkwardness is like that for socializing. Low levels of fear are also totally fine.
If you’re looking to meet people your age and learn to interact with them look up meet ups for things you’re interested in, like board game groups, art in the park, etc. If you can’t think of anything go for improv. Improv is basically a targeted exercise in learning to feel comfortable in an awkward situation, though it’s definitely jumping into the deep end to learn to swim.
And as for public transit. Do it scared. Look up a route (and back) then take the train or the bus to a part of town you’ve aways heard of, but haven’t been to, or to a medium niceness part of town. Take a walk around a few blocks there.