Set Muscle

Also don't be afraid to take up space and rest properly between sets. You're allowed to use that rack for your full session. You don't owe anyone a rushed workout because they're hovering.

Chiming in as a guy - genuinely most of us in the rack area think nothing of who's lifting, we're in our own heads about our own sets. The intimidation is real but the judgement is mostly imagined. Glad you claimed your spot.

That's actually really reassuring to hear, thank you.

Where do you want to take the squat from here? Once you've got a confident base it's fun to pick a strength goal - bodyweight on the bar for reps is a great first milestone.

Bodyweight for reps sounds like the perfect target actually. I'm close-ish. Thanks everyone, this thread is exactly the encouragement I came here for.

Go get it. And keep posting your progress - threads like this are why this corner of the forum is the best one.