I wasn’t always the "quiet girl.” But I was never the loud girl, either. I was just me. As I grew older, kids at school began to notice something was different about me. Why don’t you talk? Why are you so quiet, they would ask. I wasn't a mute person. I spoke when spoken to and when I really had something to say. My response to their their inquiring minds about my quietness would be "I don't know" or "I'm not that quiet." Their concern about my quietness left me wondering if there was something really wrong with me being quiet.
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I soon discovered that yes, according to society there is something wrong with being quiet. It's the quiet ones we have to worry about right? It's the quiet people that are planning on bombing the school, right? Wrong. Well at least in my case. I’m not planning on bombing the school. I'm just quietly observing my surroundings. Is that so wrong? I'll talk when I really have something worthwhile to say. Professor, I have a name and no its not the “quiet girl.” No {insert classmate's name here}, nobody died, I'm not sad, maybe a little tired. I’m not judging you in my head, maybe I am a little, but don't we all do that?
There are days when I think I'm being a little more talkative than usual but someone always reminds me that no, I'm still being too quiet. I mean why are you being so loud? Do you ever stop talking? Can you close your mouth sometimes? I noticed you've been talking a lot, “is everything “okay?" That comes off rude and insensitive, I'm sure you more outgoing people would not like someone approaching you in that manner.
Next time you come across a quiet, reserved person, don't assume that something is wrong with that person. Asking the person about why they're being so quiet will most likely cause more harm than good, especially if the person is on the shy side. Bringing more attention to the person's quiet personality may make them want to go further into their shell and talk even less. Don’t ask them why they're being so quiet. Instead have a normal conversation with them if that's what you want. After engaging in conversation with the person maybe you will see that the person is just a little shy, or just a more reserved, naturally quiet person. After all, wouldn't life be boring if we all had the same personality?
