Quiz: Are You Awkward?

Mostly a.’s: You’re very awkward! The term “adorkable” might very well be an apt description for you. From your weird guffawing at inappropriate times to your propensity to stain your blouse at lunch to your crushes routinely cracking your face (usually in public), you are not what one would call “graceful under pressure.” But it’s cool, because even if you haven’t met them yet, there are people out there who will value your uniqueness and like you just the way you are. Avoid people who try to “help” you fit in or adopt you as a pet cause. You don’t need to be fixed; you just need to find the right lid for your pot.

Mostly b.’s: You’re pretty awkward. You know how to hide a few of your idiosyncrasies. You’ve learned to modulate your voice to fit the setting, so you’re never too loud in a quiet place or too whispery in a crowd. You can be charming on occasion, but more often than not, you play the wall at parties and would rather talk to the other wallflowers than mix it up on the dance floor. (You’re too self-conscious to enjoy public dancing.) The key to your happiness is to remember to stay loose. People may notice your discomfort in social situations, but remind yourself that it doesn’t matter. Hold your ground, keep eye contact, and above all, have a good time.

Mostly c.’s: You’re occasionally awkward. Most of your social discomfort is situational. You may find yourself under-dressed at a semi-formal event or overdressed for a date to the movies. In the presence of a more poised and confident peer group, your awkwardness may bubble to the surface, but for the most part, you’re comfortable in your skin–which is great–and you’re rather well-received, wherever you go. Maybe you could offer the J’s of the world a few nonjudgmental tips on how to win a few friends and influence people (or at least not make any back away in confusion or annoyance).

Mostly d.’s: You aren’t awkward at all–in public. You’ve learned to mask almost all your insecurities. Either you check them at the door before you leave the house each day, you hide them behind your impeccable style or quick wit, or you simply repress them to yourself when they threaten to surface. In life, you tend to get what you want, either by being a proactive go-getter, by a seemingly effortless charisma, or by the luck of the draw. Your challenge, then, isn’t to manage your public persona in a way that makes you feel more comfortable socially, but instead to not intentionally make others feel awkward in your presence. You can’t control how people feel about themselves (obviously) but you can control your attitude toward those who are clearly having a harder time than you are. In short: don’t be a Nina!

Discuss your results (and your responses to question 10) below!