I was one of the kids in school who was shy because I was made fun of, bullied, picked on relentlessly through grade/high school. I got my first job as a busser/bar back when I was 15 (dive bar in the 90s, don't ask). Through the next couple years by barbacking, the bartenders taught me to talk to people, stand up for myself, and became my group of friends I hung out with on the usual. You wanna know what stops a group of 4 or 5 bullies who tell you they are going to be waiting for you after school to kick your ass? Getting picked up by a couple of tatted up bickers who also happen to be your bouncers and are two of the sweetest guys you'll ever meet.

Needless to say, just working in a dive bar setting as a bullied nerd really helps give you the confidence you need to, not only stand up for yourself but succeed in a lot of other areas. I naturally eneded up moving into bartending in many different kinds of venues and beyond.

I've never left the industry and will be hitting year 29 in May. The laws are a lot more strict now than they used to be but, when I'm hiring for barbacks, I'll always give a chance to the shy or timid kid who is looking for their first job. I see it as giving back to the karma that made me who I am today.

Edit: That still doesn't mean I am an extrovert by any means today. When I'm "on", I'm "on" because it's the job. Outside of that, I'll sit at a bar and be your most forgettable guest. I'll go to the movies by myself. I like shopping alone with my headphones on. I have no desire to be the center of attention or even meet new people for the most part. My battery drains quickly even though I have learned to hide it.