I've always been an introvert, from kindergarten up until now in college. Like pretty much every introvert, once I get to know a person well enough, the whole introvert thing kind of goes away. But initially, it can be a real challenge to make friends or join a club or even participate in a class. I don't think I realized how much of an introvert I was until college.
Basically, when you go to college, you feel like you're surrounded by overachieving extroverts who can barely get a word out because they're busy saying hi to one of their million friends on campus and are in about 10 clubs and going to Antarctica for their research project or something along those lines. Okay, they're not all that bad... In fact they're the lucky ones! Embracing a brand new place with a culture like that can be incredibly difficult and it was for me. I've been told in many different ways that being an introvert can be such a negative. I think that everyone has been in a class where they have to write down their biggest weakness along with their biggest strength, and for the weakness, it's always the same thing. I think you can guess what it is.
Now, I ended up going to the same college as my girlfriend, which I've faced plenty of negative comments about in itself. That was constantly the immediate go-to when people heard that I was having a harder time making friends at college, and while that may be partially true, what's even truer is that it was the introvert in me that provided me with that challenge. I've even been told in one of my classes that I'll have a harder time getting a job as an introvert than if I were an extrovert. That can hurt, because it's something that can be hard to control. It's part of you.
I'm not trying to say that you shouldn't go make friends or join clubs and whatnot because you're an introvert, but what I'm saying is that we live in a society where being an introvert provides us with different challenges than that of an extrovert. But what I'm here to say is that it's okay. Really, it is. If you are an introvert, like me, you can learn to accept that. Personally, I haven't completely accepted it, but it's a work in progress. Being an introvert is part of your personality type. That's something that you grow up with. Now, I'm no psychologist, but I'm here to tell you from whatever a 19 year old can tell you, that it's not the end of the world. You have the ability to embrace that introvert and find your niche when it comes to coming out of your shell.
Bad news, you're most likely going to have to come out of your shell from time to time, and college is the perfect time to do that. You can't let being an introvert rule your life and prevent you from taking certain opportunities, because college is full of them. But that doesn't mean you should change yourself. It's a hard concept to take in, but it's necessary, or else you'll miss out on some really great opportunities.
So if you're an introvert, I feel your pain. But just know that it's okay. It's not the end of the world. And while it will provide you with some big challenges, it's a part of you, and to be truly happy, you need to be happy with yourself. Overcoming those challenges can make you a strong and well-rounded person. The introvert has so many other great qualities that can far outweigh the negative ones. So in the wise words of Justin Bieber, and probably far from the original connotation, "You should go and love yourself." Now let me go take a nap.
