Hi Sameer,

"There is no need for a rule in any institute that all people should socialize and people who force others to socialize or anything else are weird"
You're absolutely right, and the purpose of this institution from what you've said, does not involve/require or it's not part of the criteria to socialise.........so she can't make it a rule.
Maybe in her mind she said that to try to make people in general feel a little more "comfortable"/at ease, but NO that doesn't work for everyone, in fact it can do the opposite sometimes.
So........she can't make it a rule.........and I should think you can say something like "Sorry, I don't........" if picked up on it. And if there are spaces where others are just chatting around you then maybe you could be focusing on "work"/the activity you're actually there for.
Your individuality, who you are, what you're there for, should not exclude you/discriminate you from enjoyable/fulfilling participation in the topic. You have every right to be there and participate without the socialisation.
If the others want to socialise........like you said.........fine...........but please don't let you feel any "less than" or that you "don't fit in", you're not and you shouldn't have/need to!!
See that you get out of the institute what you want to. Make it work for you.

And you know that could include getting something out of the "socialising drive" without socialising...........maybe at some point you might want to initiate talking to someone/people about the work/activity you're doing/you're there for, or if someone is talking socially to you turn the conversation to that..........get some different ideas/views, bounce of them ideas for ways to get to where you want to be...........that sort of thing........all topic related. Again, make it work for you.

So hoping you find a way to be there that allows you to get what you want to get from it.



Alison