Before attending college, I knew I had to come out of my shell to be successful academically and happy socially. I would like to tell you that this thought made me want to stick my head in the sand. Like an ostrich, if you can picture that...But, my overbearing urge to do well quickly overpowered my urge to hide forever, and my inner realist forced me to step out of my comfort zone and try new things. And by doing so, I learned two valuable life lessons.

I learned that the best way to deal with being in an extroverted environment as an introvert, is to fully accept that you are in fact, an introvert. I wanted to push myself to be more crazy and outgoing and do a hundred things at once to be "like everyone else", but I quickly learned that that wasn't me. I felt like I was trying to force a different version of myself onto the world around me, and I knew I wasn't being my true self. So hello! My name is Marina, and I'm an introvert. There. It's out there, and I've accepted myself for who I am, and so should you.

I also learned that the moments leading up to something you're nervous about, like a big party, an interview, or even just a casual conversation, are always the worst parts of your day. For me, that much potential interaction makes me extremely nervous, and I'm always convinced that I'll do something stupid and ruin my chance of making a new friend or joining a new club. What usually ends up happening is that I make the entire situation out to be so much more serious than it really is, and I always end up relaxing and enjoying myself.

After learning these two lessons, and after a few weeks of trying to get the balance right, I finally found my stride, and was able to join in in things that made me happy and helped me find my confidence. I've met so many amazing people I'm proud to call my friends, and I love what I do outside of school. Understanding your limits is a very healthy thing, and everyone has different limitations and thresholds.

All in all, I learned that the feeling of finally putting yourself out there and getting involved in something you really enjoy is so rewarding, and at the end of the day, you can give yourself a pat on the back for doing something some people find effortless. It may take time, but that's okay. For us introverts, and sometimes extroverts, we have to work at feeling comfortable in social settings, but it's the best kind of work, and I know college has been the best way for me to achieve my happy medium.