An introvert (from your good ol’ Dictionary.com): a person who tends to shrink from social contact and to become preoccupied with their own thoughts. According to Carl Jung from myersbriggs.org, his perspective was related to the manner of how one's energy is used on either “the outer or the inner world.” A more-insightful definition as one would hope, as he is one of the most well-known and studied psychologists.

With that said let me rewind to “x” amount of time ago to when my manager told me to be an extrovert. Well basically. I had my third-quarter review for my summer internship. I was working in a challenging role for myself while getting about 5.5 hours of sleep a night and drinking five cups of coffee a day just to keep up with the workload and the pressure at times. Not only was I internally stressed every day, but it was like I was always in this out of body experience comparing me to the others, worrying how I was measuring up to the fellow interns all the while hoping to impress my team, specifically my manager.

During my review, a formal sit-down meeting with my manger, he started off by asking how he felt I was doing in my work and growing accustom to the office’s culture. I didn’t go into far detail other than saying something like “I think I am doing well, feel like I am finally getting a grasp on all the work”…etc.

Throughout the review, one topic listed on the checklist of tasks and abilities handed off to him by HR was "adapting to the company's culture and methodology." It made him ask if I like it and I quickly responded, “Yes, I love the culture, everyone here is so kind and helpful, all while being fun” (that’s an abridged version).

After that sincere response, my manger then replied “Natalie, as you can see here, many…. most people are extroverts - outgoing, and like to joke around - which plays a great impact in the culture here, and I can tell you are introverted, and it would benefit you to talk more to the professionals here and get to know them, hear their stories."

I took that comment more as him saying "everyone out there in the office is extroverted so you need to be extroverted to work here." I am not saying what he said was wrong and he didn't technically tell me to be extroverted, but it sure felt like it at the time. It was as if he had doubt in me as a professional because of my accused lack of personality, charisma, and inappropriate jokes.

He didn’t see me all the time in the office. I made plenty of contacts and learned about others' professional career paths during quick breaks in the kitchen or passing in the halls. I don't need to be the loudest or most heard person in the crowd. It just bothers me to this day the way he said it, comparing me to others of different personalities when there is nothing wrong with mine. It was my choice to focus my energy in that environment on my inner thoughts because that's what I felt I needed to do to measure up and do my god-damn best.

I don’t consider myself an introvert and I don’t consider myself an extrovert. Rather, I prefer the term ambivert which is basically the middle-ground between an introvert and an extrovert. Some days I am more outgoing than others, and sometimes I like to be more of a listener than vocalize my opinions. And that's okay.

There is nothing wrong with being more introverted. Introverts just are able to focus and accomplish the same mission, work-wise or socially, as others, just in a different way.