Most Shy

In intermediate school, I was voted most shy.  Looking back, it was the truth.  I was extremely shy and only opened up with my friends.  It was a Catch-22 as I used the label as an excuse.  Since I always looked for other people to validate me, I let it stick and allowed it to define me.  I continued to be shy and did not want to break out of it because my class did vote for me.  I am what I am and since most of my class felt this way it must be true and I should just let it continue to be true.  Add this label to my low self esteem and I sank even lower.  It took years for me to make a positive change.  Labels are quite hazardous to your (mental) health.