Not Open to Discussion

I knew that I would be facing some problems when I started grad school.  I would need to remember all that I had forgotten from college.  I would need to find out what I didn't learn in college that I should have.  I would need to find out what had changed or altered since I was in school.  That wouldn't be too hard.  I would need to brush up on my computer skills, especially learning how to operate the online classes platform, Blackboard.  For some reason, I don't find the controls that intuitive.  My computer is not interacting with it the way it does with other programs and websites.  For instance, the spellcheck function doesn't work on any of the messages I type within it.  Things might be easier if all the professors had a uniform style, but each one does things slightly different.  The hardest thing is the discussion boards.  I am somewhat insular.  I am more of a listener, staying in the background of conversations, until the right moment.   This is especially true in new situations and people.  It can take me weeks or more until I feel familiar and comfortable enough to join in.  Until then, I usually only respond when asked directly or when I feel confident about my answer or opinion.  I can't do that here, as the discussions boards are mandatory participation.  While I can respond to assignment prompts readily enough, it is awkward for me to read and then comment on the work of others.  I am just not used to this sort of thing.  I can post my feelings on social media, like this, because there is a layer of anonymity.  I can't be sure anyone reads this.  If they do, no one has ever commented.  At least I haven't read any of them, if they have.  This sort of direct communication is foreign to me.  It is bugging me out.  I am afraid I am not doing enough for it to count towards my grades.  I could just miss out on having a good grade because of my social anxiety. I wish I could do more, but I just not in the habit of talking to people, having not had too many people to talk to for so many decades.