DEAR HARRIETTE: My friends are always pulling out their phones to take photos whenever we hang out, whether it’s at dinner, a casual walk or even just hanging out at someone’s apartment. I know it’s normal these days, but I hate being in photos because I feel awkward and self-conscious in front of the camera. I never like how I look in photos, and instead of enjoying the moment, I get stressed trying to pose or wondering if I look bad. It’s gotten to the point where I sometimes dread social plans because I know a photo shoot will inevitably happen, and I feel pressure to participate so I don’t come off as antisocial or the “boring” friend.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I am currently in the middle of a career pivot. For many years, I worked in corporate offices behind the scenes in operations. I still do that now in a more creative industry. In this role, I get to show my personal interests, style and creative capabilities a lot more. As a result, a lot of people have been telling me that I should step away from being behind the scenes and start putting myself out there. I’ve always been in a supportive role, and I worry that I’m not ready to come out of my shell. In the same breath, I know I have great potential and I’m only delaying my growth by allowing fear to guide me. Do you have any advice for someone trying to step out of their comfort zone professionally or establish their voice in a creative industry? – Comfort Zone DEAR COMFORT ZONE: Many people take public speaking or improv courses or even sing (sober) karaoke to get them to break out of their comfort zone. You might want to enroll in Toastmasters, an organization that teaches confidencebuilding and articulation. The point is to engage in ways that will help you push past your insecurities.

DEAR HARRIETTE: My daughter, a high school junior, recently broke her leg, and it has turned our whole household upside down. She is a dedicated volleyball player and has been training nonstop for years. This was supposed to be her big season when college coaches would get to see her play and potentially recruit her. Unfortunately, she’s now missing out on the entire season, and she feels like all her hard work has gone to waste. She is heartbroken, and honestly, I don’t know how to help her. She spends hours scrolling through social media, watching her teammates play, and it makes her feel worse. I keep reminding her that she still has her senior year and that there are other ways to get noticed, but she doesn’t want to hear it right now. It’s hard to watch her go from being such a motivated, confident young woman to feeling discouraged and left behind. As a parent, I want to support her emotionally and help her find perspective, but I also don’t want to dismiss her feelings. This is a huge loss for her, and I know she’s grieving not just the injury but the lost opportunity. How can I comfort her during this difficult time while also keeping her spirits up and reminding her that this setback doesn’t have to end her dreams of playing in college? – Turning Point DEAR TURNING POINT: Find out if her school has a sports guidance counselor who can talk to her and help her work through her feelings. Now is a time when a professional can be extremely helpful. Also, speak to the coach and an academic adviser about the option of reclassing, which is the process of extending her high school tenure by a year so that she can still be a junior next year during the recruitment process. This may provide some relief because it could give her a second chance to get noticed during her junior year.

DEAR HARRIETTE: I was invited to a gathering at a nightclub this weekend, and I sat with a private group of people who provided table service. It was very chic until random people started to sneak up and try to pour themselves free drinks from our bar setup. One woman came and sat with our group, even though we didn’t know her; she tried to force herself into photos when we were taking group shots. When this woman tried to pour herself a drink from our host’s bar setup, he pumped the brakes, but he didn’t ask her to leave our private area. When I asked him why, he said that he is a public figure, so he has to be nice to everyone. He let her stay there. I think he should have asked her to move as she kept trying to disrupt our group. What do you think?