Being an introvert in college is a strange phenomenon.

I am extremely quiet when you first meet me and I’m almost positive that most people in my classes do not even realize I exist. I put off picking up packages way longer than I should, just because there are always so many people there and I think it’ll be weird.

My most introverted trait about myself, though, would be my need for alone time. An introvert can be the most outgoing, friendly person in the world. However, being social with people for a long time, drains your “batteries” and the only way to recharge is to spend some time with nobody else except yourself.

For me, after I spend multiple hours with numerous people, I become a monster. Nobody wants to be around me because I turn nasty. Something about these situations removes the filter from my brain and I say exactly what’s on my mind, no matter who I am with. Before I really understood what being an introvert meant, I assumed that I got grouchy because I was tired. The strange thing about this, though, was that I would come home and be by myself for fifteen minutes and be super energized and ready to go. In this case, my batteries recharged and I was ready to socialize again.

I have always been able to deal with my introversion before college. I just set my priorities straight and build time for myself into my daily schedule. However, I was definitely nervous to go to college and have a roommate when I needed time to myself. I thought it would be more difficult to find time to myself when people are always surrounding you.

I’m lucky to have found friends who are also introverts who also have the same needs as I do. Therefore, we are not one of those friend groups who hang out 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We spend the majority of our time together either on the weekend or at dinner every night.

I might spend a little more time in my room than other students, but it doesn’t make my friendships any less valuable. I don’t need to constantly be with my friends to know that they’re great and I appreciate them. To me, I’d rather spend a half hour a day with my best friends than to spend hours upon hours with people whom I’m not that close with.

Being an introvert in college is not nearly as difficult as I thought it would be. You just have to make sure that no matter what happens, you make time for yourself. Not everyone will understand, but hey that’s life and not everyone is always going to understand everything about you.