system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
How important is to be social in Academia?

I'm starting my MSc and I write this while several (most) people in my department are having a social gathering in a restaurant nearby with a visitor professor who just  arrived and whose work I truly respect and follow. But I'm just too awkward for my own good and I don't like being around many people unless needed (conferences, colloquia, presentations, etc). I try to be friendly but fail so hard. Usually I wouldn't mind, but I wonder if I'm missing chances of ... anything, I would have thought there would be more loners here, but I feel a bit out of place in that matter.
I'm just starting so maybe this sounds too of a stupid question, but a bit of your experiences may help me here.
gpt
It is very important but probably not for the reasons you think. It is through social interactions that you will find out about the job market, get tips for teaching, learn about the unwritten rules of your career, etc. You will get all of this by becoming close to more senior students and junior professors.