Panicking regarding exams and trips (long post)

Thanks a lot for the reply. Really appreciate it. I've started using the calendar you hyperlinked. Hopefully the not-breaking a chain plan will prevent me from procrastinating.

I do like playing the cello--at least I think so (my thoughts on it keep fluctuating as my mood is in a constant state of flux). I'm not sure if changing teachers right before the exam is feasible though since I've booked all the lessons before the exam and the exam itself is so soon. Today I had my first cello lesson after the holiday where I told my teacher about the trip. She was in a good mood today and was relatively understanding of my situation when I told her about it (I made visiting the architects in the upcoming trip sound like a valuable opportunity and she was like "we'll figure things when its time for you to leave for the trip"). I feel better about practicing (at least the idea of practicing doesn't repulse me that much) now that I'm not that worried about the exam.

I do agree that I tend to get too stressed out over other opinion's of me. Maybe I need to go on r/hownottogiveafuck more--I think learning their philosophy will benefit me. I had a thought though: How does one make friends (as in how to start conversations without being lame) without caring about how other people think about you (because friendship is a two-way relation where positive feelings about each other are mutual imo)? I'm going to a social event tomorrow in hopes of meeting more people and I find it extremely difficult to approach people/small talk, especially when they're already engaged in a conversation. I don't want to seem like a nosy person by asking too many questions about them and appear too eager, but then again, I don't want to go to the other extreme and appear all anti-social and introverted. Thoughts?

/r/MyLittleSupportGroup Thread