[hardcandy]

Don't give up hope unless you're really quite sure there is none to be had. My freshman college roommate was the most stereotypical shy, hover-parented, second generation Indian immigrant you could imagine. He worked hard to understand social dynamics and improve himself (zxcvvcxz's posts hint at where to start). My roommate was naturally charismatic but it had been repressed by certain dynamics within his culture. I watched him work hard to develop his personality and become more charismatic. I watched him lift in the gym until he became a giant. It was extremely difficult and I doubt everyone is capable of this but from a sample size of 1 I can at least tell you that it's possible and possible in the people that others would least expect it from. By the end of four years my then best friend was the smoothest, most confident mother fucker in the room and enjoyed success in social situations that his high school self couldn't have even imagined and there's no doubt it changed and will continue to change the course of the rest of his life.