by Anna Haas ’23

People exhaust me. Seriously, being around people for long periods of time often makes me unable to keep my eyes open the next day, especially if I haven’t had time to unwind. As a child, I was told that I was just shy and would grow out of it, but I always thought it was something more than that. Sure, I could eventually open up and be more outgoing, but there would always be a point where I would turn back into a pumpkin and want to be alone.

It went on like this for years. Since I had no idea what I was or that there were others like me, I began to resent myself for not being able to be outgoing and comfortable around people. It looked so effortless to others, yet here I was, quiet, shy, and uncomfortable. As I got older, I finally learned what I was: introverted. You would think that would help me realize that I was not alone in my dislike of social situations, right? Yeah, not really. That took me a few more years to realize and honestly, I still have some trouble with it.

I’m not making introversion sound very good, am I? Don’t get me wrong, I love being introverted. Deep, meaningful conversations and friendships come naturally to us once we feel comfortable around a person. We’re very creative and know how to appreciate the little things in life. We’re capable of having a fun night out and also love staying in and watching a movie. However, this level of acceptance towards my introversion took me a while to realize, probably because I could never find any other introverts. You know why? All my fellow introverts were also hiding in a corner somewhere wondering where their fellow introverts were. And, on the off chance we found each other, neither one of us wanted to start a conversation.

Once I figured this out – and again, it took me a while – I realized that every once in a while I needed to be the one to reach out. Boy, did I not like the idea of doing that. Eventually, though, I got up enough courage to give it a try, and guess what? A lot of times it went really well. Yes, it drained my social battery, but it helped me grow a lot, too. Ultimately, it led me to the wonderful friends I have today (who, might I add, are all pretty introverted themselves.)

I’m not saying that introverts should become extroverts. The world needs introverts, even if it doesn’t think so. But I think introverts also need the world, even if they don’t think so and hate the idea with a passion. So, to my fellow introverts, here’s my advice: try making that move to reach out. Put yourself out there a little bit. Chances are, you’ll find someone amazing.