For as long as I can remember, I have been a very quiet person. I'm not very loud and outspoken. I HATE public speaking, and I've been told that I can come off as stand-offish. Some people look down upon these qualities.

They may think I have no opinions for myself, are too soft-spoken for my own good, or that I let people walk all over me. These people don't seem to understand the nature of being an introverted person. I like being a quiet person. I see it as a large advantage rather than a disadvantage. It has brought me many things in my life that I would not otherwise have.

Because of being quiet, I am far more observant than most outspoken people. I would rather watch what is going on around me than be in the center of the action.

I am content sitting and just listening to others talk instead of being the person doing all the talking. I learn more about the people I am with. I pick up on more things than maybe some other people would. It gives me an opportunity to know the person better.

Another great thing about being quiet is that I have a lot of time to think before I speak. I can think about what I am going to say instead of just saying what is on the top of my head. This saves me from many awkward encounters of saying the wrong thing at the wrong time. It makes it easier to not offend others.

I think the greatest advantage of being an introverted person is the opportunity to make friends. By being a quiet person, I have developed more close friendships rather than many broad acquaintances.

The close group of friends that I have are always there for me when I need them most. I know that they have my back and will always be there for me. My close friendships mean very much to me because I have taken a lot of time to develop them.

Another advantage is that quiet people rarely get in trouble for being too loud. I am rarely the individual in a class that gets yelled at for talking too much. I focus more on what the teacher is saying than what is going on around me. That does not mean I don't talk to the people around me, but I try to keep it at a low volume.

I have many loud, outspoken friends that I love to death. They are funny and nice to be around. They appreciate my quietness, and I appreciate their loudness. We seem to compensate for each other. They tell me when I need to be louder and more outgoing, and I can tell them when it is time to quiet down.

I love the way that I am and I would not change it for anything.