When I was a freshman in high school I took the Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator for the first time. The Meyers-Briggs Type Indicator is a tool developed by Isabel Briggs Myers and Katherine Briggs, used to identify and describe certain personalities. It requires you to answer a number of questions and then it gives you a result composed by a series of letters.

After taking the test, I remember sharing my results with my peers in class and being the only one whose results categorized them as an introvert. I remember everyone looking at me because all of their results had indicated that they were extroverts.

I remember feeling vulnerable and like something was wrong with me.

I honestly did not know what it meant to be an introvert and based on the reaction of my peers being labeled as an introvert did not really appeal to me. After that day in class, I even tried to take the Meyers-Briggs test again and change some of my answers to see if I could change my results. I was afraid to be different. And I was afraid to be associated with the negative connotations and stereotypes that people assumed about people who were introverted.

People generalize introverts by the dictionary definition that claims we are shy and do not like to be around a lot of people. I did not like how this definition defined me and I would be upset if anyone labeled me using that definition of introvert. Due to these stereotypes, in high school, I tried my hardest to ignore a part of who I was because of society's false ideas about introversion.

I was guilty of misunderstanding what being an introvert truly meant and college where I learned to embrace that part of myself.

College is a place where you gain responsibility, you are challenged, and most importantly where you learn a lot about yourself. The professors and extracurriculars that I joined taught me what being an introvert really meant. Instead of being punished for “not speaking enough,” I was told that introverts are some of the best speakers because they take time to think and plan what they are going to say. Additionally, I learned that the main difference between being extrovert and being introvert is how you recharge and gain energy. Introverts tend to recharge by spending time alone, while extroverts recharge by being with other people.

The meaning of being an introvert goes way beyond on being shy. Learning these things helped me form a more concrete understanding of my own personality and how I function in the world.

It took me a while, but I now fully embrace being introvert and ignore society's generalizations of introverts being “quiet." Of course, when I introduce myself to people I don’t say, “Hi, I am Tatayana and I am introvert,” but I do embrace that being an introvert is a part who I am and that there is nothing wrong with me.

I am not quiet and I do not prefer sitting alone reading books all the time. I like being around people and I also have occasional conversations on the bus with strangers, just like anybody else. Knowing that I am introvert helps me identify my strengths and find ways to overcome my weaknesses. The dictionary definition and the stereotypes about being an introvert, do not define me! I am kind, I am confident, and I have the freedom to be anything that I want to be. But most importantly, I am strong because I understand who I am.