how do you get more confidence to express yourself? i get quiet during normal interactions with people like a barista and they can't hear?

I would focus on speaking with a louder voice in any conversations you have, like try practising it with friends you’re comfortable with first. And practise speaking to people more in general, you should get more confident over time with more social experience. Its okay to be shy too, but it does help if the other person can still hear what you’re saying. You’re not alone with this problem, a lot of people, for example those with social anxiety like myself, can have this problem x

you have to get MEAN and loud. For some people, to find a happy medium they have to live in the extremes for a little while. And then they will naturally receed back to a happy medium.

it's GOTTA come from INSIDE YOU ........................................ JUST DO IT !!!