If you dont want to be, then stop. What makes you shy, is your fear that whatever you say, do, act, belef etc, will not be accounted for or will be frouned upon, and that is what makes you shy. What most people dont understand, is that fear of failure etc really does come across most people, but lively confident people just accept this.

If your more confident, expressive and open there is the chance that you will be hurt, laughed at etc. But whats worse? being in your position now feeling bad about yourself, or someone else attempting to take advantage of you, make an example of you etc, when he/she is probably just scared of showing their weaknesses!

just go for it!