How to have more confidence in yourself?

Hey monkeys, how do you build confidence to speak up? I'm a senior who interned at a MM PE firm this summer and will be returning FT next summer. Great experience, but I felt really shy amongst my team and never wanted to speak up because imposter syndrome. I went to a large public school all my life and now a large college where there's no participation grades. Got through life basically studying hard and keeping my head down. Now I feel like that's screwed me over as I prepare to enter a FT career, I generally get pretty anxious speaking to people of authority about my work, even though I (like to think I) work hard. Anyone have advice? 

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Confidence comes with experience. Not everyone will be the most vocal. It's ok to sit back and be an active listener and contribute in a meaningful way with your expertise (as you develop that). NO ONE wants to hear a blow hard, especially a young one step in all the time so you're being overly self conscious about this. Just be yourself and contribute as your experience builds.

 

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