My red and black Nikes rested on the new carpet that had been laid down just weeks prior. I reached for the gummy bears sitting next to my notebook and pen, as my professor went on about a previous student’s statement. As I began chewing on one of God’s gifts known as gummy bears, I nearly choked. I was admittedly unaware about where the conversation had gone, but as my professor finished speaking, another student began speaking. This student who sat nearly fifteen away, began his statement with the words, “Introverts lack confidence.” I wasn’t sure where that statement came from or what he went on to say. I was simply trapped in the seven to ten seconds it took the words, “Introverts lack confidence,” to come out of his mouth.
As an open introvert, I’ve come to terms that I am not the person who’s going to make a ton of friends the first day of school or the person’s who going to be the life of the party. Since my days on the West End Elementary School playground, I’ve been told that not being the one to raise my hand in class or the person who can go out and network with a ton of people would come back to bite me. In fact, I think that many people reading this article have been told to break out of their “shell” or to “become comfortable with who they are” While all of that is helpful to an extent, I am comfortable in my quiet nature. I am proud of myself thus far in my own personal growth. Being the quiet one in the room, has not stopped me from making my mark in public speaking or just flat voicing my opinion. Being introverted, isn’t a negative a trait. It isn’t a handicap. It isn’t a disease it is most certainly, not a lack of confidence. I am quiet because that’s who I am. Often times, the quietest person is the room is the person with the most fascinating story to tell or the most unique tell. However, we often tell kids the opposite.
From our first days in school, we are told that the people who voice their opinion the most and ask the most questions are the people who are most engaged and deserve the most participation points. This mindset extends into later years when we give kids attention for being the most active on social media or for being the loudest in the room. As a result, we teach kids that extroverted is good and introverted is bad, when that is just not the case. Your contribution to a team, to a classroom and to the world is not measured in the quantity of your words, but rather the quality of your words. Introverts don’t lack confidence. I cannot speak for all introverts, but I can say as an introvert, I pick my words carefully. I think very critically. I think before I speak. I am proud introvert. No, I do not like pride. No, there is nothing wrong with. I am confident. I am strong. I am introvert.
