I am the most textbook example of an introvert you will ever come across. My best friend on the other hand is a raging extrovert and I absolutely love it!

Everything we hear about extroverts and introverts pegs them against each other. It makes it seem like these two groups of people live in two completely different worlds and rarely intermingle. The reality is that the Chapman campus is one very small world, and everyone has to intermingle. So if extroverts and introverts are so very different, how on earth did I land myself a raging extrovert as a best friend? And I know what all you introverts reading this are thinking, how does she like being friends with an extrovert? 

Well for starters, just because I am an introvert doesn’t mean I hate people. I am in fact quite fond of them, as are most introverts; we just need some time to recharge after a lot of socializing. We also like parties, we prefer it if the party were smaller (we at our best one-on-one after all) or if we new everyone there. Queue Lauren, the aforementioned bestie. She loves and accepts me as an introvert but she also knows when to drag me out and prevent me from becoming a hermit. She will make sure to introduce me to as many people as she can and make me feel as comfortable as possible. But, she also challenges me to circulate on my own and talk to strangers (cringe), and as much as I hate it, I love her for it.   

Another thing that makes me and my bestie such a good match, is that every so often, aka very often, I need to take my alone time to recharge. This gives her the perfect opportunity to check in with her army of other friends. It really is a win, win.   

Now, the thing that really seals the deal with this whole introvert-extrovert pairing is listening. Introverts are inherently very good listeners and as it so happens, extroverts are very good talkers, so you see where this is going. But this is where the game changer comes in; introverts aren’t boring. We have exciting stories to tell, wisdom to share and like to have our voices heard too. So even though I much prefer to be on the listening end of the conversation, Lauren creates a space for me to give her my advice or tell her my story, showing that she values my voice as well as my ear. 

In other words, our friendship really is the best! So don't be afraid of letting those opposites attract.