Hey, thanks for the kind and supporting words and congrats on your achieved fluency! I've seen a handful of speech therapist in my time and even though it's gotten a bit better, it still didn't make me fully fluent. I also started stuttering in kindergarten, maybe a little later. Throughout a good portion of my school time, so around eight or nine years, I had no friends at all. And everyone who I 'considered' a friend only saw me as a fifth wheel, if even. I was that kid who talked to and hugged a tree every break in elementary. Anyway. I don't know if it's specifically a disadvantage if you had a great and lasting friend group. At least you know how it is being around people, I'd assume? I was lonely, been bullied, had just a few enemies and many neutral or positive companions but no close friends. I developed a strong social anxiety and maybe some kind of avoidant personality traits as well. I'm not trying to diminish your experiences, just dropping mine here as well :) I will totally agree with you saying fluency doesn't solve the problem. I've gotten more fluent like half a year ago by getting more self confident. How did I do that? I wish I knew. I met someone who opened my eyes and explained myself to me, that was likely a huge factor. I realized that stuttering is a full-blown fluency disorder, it is neither my fault that I stutter nor that I "still haven't fixed it yet yadda yadda yadda" and you have no reason to talk me down for it. This made me more confident. I'm honestly looking forward to being laughed at again for not being able to say ny name because I will finally slam my hand on the table, take my sweet ass time to stand up for myself and yell at them who in the everliving f they think they are for laughing at me? I feel like I'm finally ready. Fight me. Stuttering is part of you and is not your fault. Don't let anyone even remotely tell you that. You can change yourself in many ways but you don't have to. You can also always accept yourself. I wish, that you find the strength and this mindset on your way as well. Other than that and back to your question: Don't be so hard to yourself. You don't have to do everything. At lunch, go to someone who is not the center of attention. Sit down. Try to start small talk like asking how they are. Or don't. The lonelier they are by themselves the more they will just value your presence. And if you're annoyed by basic starters like "how are you?" or "nice weather today" then try fancier ones like "did you sleep well?", "is the food good?" or "do you also feel so tired?". You don't have to be tired in this moment but it's a very sympathetic, vulnerable and authentic way to start a conversation. But wait, there's more! Hear me out, I know the feeling. You are next to someone, nobody says anything. Time passes and you quickly know it's already far to late to ask introductions like "how are you" now. It feels like you have mentally greeted and accepted each other. In this case, try ice breakers like "do you prefer mountains or the sea?", "I can't stop thinking about that movie/book/..., have you seen/read it?" (the "I can't stop thinking about" also justifies why you were quiet "so long" trying to build up the courage). Or you could rely on your humor and ask a long time class mate something stupid like "do you come here often?". Keep in mind that it can need a little experience recovering yourself if the other person screws you over with their (not so humorous) answer. Thank you for coming to my TED talk. I hope this helped :) Also, don't get me wrong. I still wish I had the courage to do what I said to do but I feel like you're a little better with that lol. Cheers