Being an introvert in any environment is difficult enough, but mention college and it’s a whole new ballgame. Already, it’s not easy for people like us to approach new people, especially in an unfamiliar place. In fact, the idea of this alone is terrifying. The anxiety we get thinking about having to put ourselves out there without a familiar face beside us is overwhelming, and it’s tough to shake when you’re thrust into the exact situation.

Enter, college. The first time in your life when everyone around you is a stranger. It’s an introvert’s dream! Not. The first wave of anxiety whacks you at orientation. “Don’t lock yourself away for the night. Go meet people,” everyone tells you. You’re trying to be social, but in the pit of your stomach, you just want the night to be over so you can be alone. It only gets worse at move-in because now, you will be completely alone once your family pulls away.

Nobody is there to protect you anymore, you have to go out there and make things happen for yourself. Sure, it sounds easy, and maybe even fun right now, but for an introvert, it’s just the opposite. As introverts, we have a hard time being comfortable in any social setting; familiar or unfamiliar. So now we have to network and make friends in a strange place to make it in the business world? Funny.

For those who aren’t introverts, this is difficult to understand. We are often seen as too quiet or reserved. Sure, that’s part of it, but at the root of the problem is how uncomfortable we feel. We don’t like opening up to people, especially people we haven’t known for very long and sometimes even to people that we have.

We like to hide behind extroverted people, letting them lead the way. What sucks the most is that we often wish we could be more social, it’s just not our nature. We want to share how we feel and what we experience with others, but we would rather write it down or share it anonymously somehow so that no social interaction is required. It really sucks, but this is how us introverts live.

So, for all you extroverts out there: if you sense you’re in the presence of an introvert, show interest in them. Prompt them to be more open. Make them feel welcome and accepted. Just because we aren’t the loudest person in the room, doesn’t mean we want to be completely ignored. This is college, and soon it will be the real world.

You’re going to meet a great deal of introverts in your lifetime, and at first you may not even realize it. Sometimes all we need is an extra push to get us going and keep us from resorting to our isolated ways. You could be the one person that helps an introvert feel less uncomfortable: don’t let that opportunity pass, because we long for it.

To all you introverted college kids out there: it’s okay that you’re quiet, shy, reserved, etc. because that’s who you are, but don’t allow being an introvert to rob you of the great experiences and relationships college has to offer. We all know it’s easier said than done, but every small step is a good step. It’ll never be effortless for us, and we must accept that.

We would always rather just stay in and hang out, but there will be plenty of rainy days for that. Go enjoy the sunshine and a few adventures with a friend or two. You don’t have to be the most popular girl at school, but you should never be alone. Allow people to challenge you, and you never know what you may discover about yourself or the world outside of an introvert’s bubble.