The new roommate was a very wise girl, a little older than most girls entering college.  She knew that the girl with whom she must live was shy the moment she caught sight of her and felt the dread with which she had waited her coming.  From the time she was fourteen until she left for college she had helped her father make strangers in his church and congregation feel “at home.”  She knew just how.

During the first trying days every one greeted the shy girl cordially and then gave their attention to the wide-awake, interesting roommate.  But the roommate always included her.  “How was it, Clara?  I don’t just remember what was said,” she would say, suddenly turning to the girl who blushed but answered and found she could, to her great surprise.  Under the warmth of her roommate’s confidence in her and pride in her scholarship and the ease with which she conquered the most difficult subjects she learned to forget herself.  A great longing to help the girls who found things hard came to her and they gladly accepted her help and loved her for her sympathy.  The months wrought a marvelous change and though she found it difficult in the presence of the critical family to talk naturally at first, still the things she had to tell proved so interesting that they forgot to criticize and she forgot herself while they listened.  At the High School Seniors’ banquet she spoke for her college and her brother declared it the best speech made.

She is a graduate now and all traces of the old awkwardness have left her.  She is reserved but easy, simple and gracious in meeting those whom her work calls her to meet and her eye and her heart alike are open for the self-conscious girl wherever she meets her.  If she were to try all her life, she tells me, she could never express her gratitude for what that roommate did for her.

What was it that happened to her?  She forgot herself.  People had told her to do that before but she couldn’t, for she felt that they were watching to see her make the attempt.  They called attention to her shyness, her roommate ignored it.  They bade her take part in conversation and join with others in what they were doing; her roommate gave her a part in the conversation and made a place for her in all that they were doing.  Her family and school friends said by their manner and sometimes in words, “The poor girl is so shy, what a pity it is.”  The roommate expressed calm confidence in her and in manner and words said, “You have no idea how fine she is and how well worth knowing.”

If a girl chances to read this page who is herself popular and who finds it easy to meet people and join naturally in whatever her neighbors may be doing, has in her circle of friends a shy, awkward, self-conscious girl, may she see her opportunity and realize her mission.  The pure kindliness of heart and the thoughtfulness which prompts a happy girl, free from the pain of self-consciousness, and always at ease with her friends, to shelter, stand by and call out the best in a shy girl suffering from awkwardness deserve a rich reward.