December 19th is a significant date in my life, due to some things that happened on this day six years ago, during my junior year of high school. As we get older, we have new experiences, and learn about new realities of life - some of these things can be shocking, especially if you've been rather shy and non-social for most of your life. For those who've stayed home a lot while growing up, and haven't been very social and outgoing - if you're looking to start doing some of that, it might be wise to start out slow, by doing things, and hanging out with people, that you feel rather comfortable around, and who do things that you are used to doing. Maybe, in the future, you can start hanging out with different people as well, but that can wait - don't rush into socializing in ways that you may not be able to handle. Hanging out with others, and socializing, should be an enjoyable, fun, and safe experience, not one that will cause you an excessive amount of distress, anxiety, and culture shock. Some of that may be inevitable, but for many people, it might be best to take it slow, and to take small steps when trying to experience the "real world." That's just some advice... from someone who's made some mistakes in the past.