Wanting attention isn’t shameful. Pretending you don’t while fishing for it is what makes it awkward.

Everyone wants to be noticed, and there is nothing embarrassing in it. The awkwardness comes from the mismatch: doing the thing that asks for attention while insisting you are above wanting any. People can see both halves at once, and the denial is what draws the eye, not the wanting.

If you want people to see something you did, you are allowed to show them and say you are proud of it. Direct is much less awkward than the long way round. And when you catch yourself setting up a moment while claiming not to care, just drop the second part.