Ah, college. The chance to meet new people, explore your interests, join clubs, try out for sports teams, join a sorority—you name it, college has got it. All of these things sound wonderful in theory, especially to someone like myself.
Going to college scared me. Like, really scared me. I could have just taken online classes in the comfort of my own home, curled up in a chair with a cup of tea, but I was brave and decided that, no, I was not going to isolate myself just because it’s “comfortable.” It wasn’t the academics or the professors that I worried about; it was the overwhelmingly participation-centered idea colleges force onto their prospective students (“You’re interested in music? Well, sign up for the band!" "Kind of like that one movie? There’s a club for that, come join us now!").
This gets old. It gets old very quickly. Some days, I’d like to scream at the universe to just let me be.
As an introvert, I’m not antisocial. I love being around people who I find interesting and can converse with. We’re not “afraid” of other people. According to the Myers & Briggs Foundation, introversion and extroversion are terms used to describe how people direct their energy. Introversion is not to be confused with shyness or reclusiveness. Do you prefer socializing in small groups instead of larger ones? Do you prefer spending more time alone doing though provoking activities, such as reading, writing, painting, etc.? Do you tend to feel exhausted and need to “recharge” after socializing for long periods of time? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, congratulations! You may be an introvert!
Back to the college situation.
With all the pressure to “get out there and make new friends, yipee!” comes the thought of having to waste energy on something that may or may not be important to me. While I love meeting new people, even though I’m shy at first (not always an introvert trait, by the way!), I know that by the end of the night, I will need to go home and “recharge” in order to be able to not be a grumpy grandma the next day.
Like many people (not just introverts), I’m drawn to extroverted individuals. Their charismatic and enthusiastic personalities force me to try new things, while challenging me to put myself in somewhat uncomfortable (but rewarding) situations. I have found that this benefits me in a lot of ways and has made me a more adventurous and a much more confident person.
For all you introverts out there in college (and not!), I encourage you to step out of your comfort zones one step at a time. Don’t force yourself to attend that massive, obnoxious frat party where you know you’re going to be miserable. Instead, find something that really interests you (like maybe a book club or a cooking class) and go with a close friend. The object of the game is not to become someone completely different. The goal is to try new things, meet wonderful and interesting people, and find what makes you happy. Because, in the end, that’s what college is for!
