I know it may sound silly, but I know exactly how you feel as I've been in your shoes before. You’re sitting around all of your peers at school listening to them chatting away as you sit back quietly not saying a word. You almost seem invisible, as you don’t have much to say.
You know all too well the feeling of standing in a group of talking, but not saying anything. It’s not that you aren’t interested in the conversation, it's that you don’t have much to say about it. You’re soft-spoken and there is nothing wrong with that. Sometimes you wonder if people forget that you are there, as you rarely participate in conversation, it’s as if your invisible.
Your friends don’t always understand because you’re quiet and they aren’t. People often wonder why you’re so quiet and don’t talk that much. The questions “Why don’t you talk more?” "Do you ever talk?" and “Why are you so quiet?” are ones that are all too familiar to you. The answers of "I just am" or "I don't know that's how I am" never seem to satisfy either.
You dread the classes in which professors require participation to be a significant part of your grade. As hard as you try, every time you raise your hand you blush, suffer from an inevitable case of word vomit, and wish for the ability to be well-spoken and confident.
Your silence makes you unique. It is a part of who you are but others don’t always understand. They may think that you are flawed, but don’t let that get you down. There is nothing wrong with you and your quietness and there is absolutely no shame in it. Take pride in the fact that you speak cautiously and carefully. You’ll find your voice soon enough, trust me on this. Your words are reliable and trusting, as they aren’t thrown around carelessly. The words you say mean something, as you take the time to think about what you’re saying, as well as the impact they will have on others.
You may not speak the loudest, or have the biggest voice, but when you do you leave an impact on those you interact with. Others are often surprised when you express your opinion on something, as usually you keep your thoughts to yourself. Introverted does not mean weak. You have so much to offer, and your words are powerful. They mean something, even though there might not be a lot of them.
You’re going to change the world some day, regardless of how small your voice may be. You’ll be heard when it matters the most and those who hear you will be the important ones.
"The quietest people have the loudest minds." - Stephen Hawking
Us quiet kids need to stick together and prove the world wrong, one day at a time.
Sincerely,
A fellow quiet kid
