How can I make JAXB-generated classes participate in a visitor pattern?

I find it really difficult to participate in my classes..?

• In my university tutorial classes, we are expected to participate, and one of our grading criteria is Class Participation. But... I never say anything, except for when giving a prepared presentation, and answering the associated questions with it. Even in a "class debate" we had, I literally just read out my preprepared piece, and then was silent for the rest of the hour. My teachers are noticing it, and I think it will be seriously lowering my overall grade... To be honest, as I am only a fresher, I am not too worried about the grade - it literally counts for nothing in the first year - but I am concerned about my inability to speak in group situations. It isn't that I have nothing to say - sometimes it is haha - but often I genuinely do have points that I am eager to make, or questions that I want to ask, but as soon as I try to speak my throat just closes up, or I'll feel like I really have to cough, or I'll just get really nervous. I don't understand! In one-to-one situations with people, I talk perfectly well, and I'm not nervous at all. It's just that as soon as I am in a group setting, I fall into silence. I think it's partly habitual - I have always been quiet in formal group settings, and I have always gotten away with it - but I really want to stop it. I WANT to participate! I know that I must just seem to my teachers that I haven't studied hard enough, or I am just dull and have no opinions, or that I am a shivering, nervous wreck, or even that I think I am "above" participation, but nothing could be farther from the truth! I have tried preparing questions or comments before class, but doing so often seems arbitrary, and to be honest, I find "thinking of questions" really hard. Whenever anyone asks me what I don't understand about something, I find it really hard to answer, because until that "thing" is right within my radar, I suppose I don't really notice it, because my mind is too busy scanning "everything I have read, heard or seen" to find something that confused me, and so I don't know, I just find it hard to think of questions before hand. I think I am possibly setting my sights too high, and thinking I need to ask questions and make comments that are far more in depth and profound than they need to be for a fresher undergrad class, but again, I have always found it hard to be general, I want every single detail and until I have it, I find seeing the bigger picture hard... It's really stressing me out. I don't want to go to classes (I still DO, I just don't want to...), I hate being in class because I feel stressed and like I need to speak, and after class, when I haven't spoken, as I inevitably haven't, I feel completely awful and stupid for not speaking, and the rest of the day is dampened for me. All because I can't speak in class! I am rambling; I just want advice on how to speak up in class. I have a class in 2 hours, and I REALLY want to speak in it, especially as I only have 2 classes left until the end of term... Thanks, Dani

• Answer:

  this is really difficult situation to be in. i can stand in front of 100 people and give presentation but hate small intimate groups, i got over my fear by telling myself that i have relevant things to say and that if someone does not like it, well tough!! You have earned you right to uni so have earned your right to be heard. Not sure where you are but different colleges demand different levels of participation, be proud of your knowledge and enbrace the fact that everyone has moments of self doubt regardless of their outawrd personna. Be confident and show these others what you have to offer, good luck