Dear Introverts

Dear Introverts,

I am one of you. For those of you reading this who aren’t introverts, let me clear up what being “introverted” means. “Introverted” does not mean shy, socially awkward or anti-social. It doesn’t mean not enjoying people or never wanting to talk.

Scientifically, being introverted means that we’re more sensitive to stimuli than most people. It means that the noise at a party is extra noisy to us and that the “rush” of being around lots of new people can be enjoyable, but sometimes exhausting. It means that we need to balance friends with solitude, and conversation with quiet.

Okay — back to my fellow introverts. As I’m discovering, college isn’t set up for people like us. College is supposedly about making friends and going out and living large and protesting injustices and having debates and being exposed to a whole new world of people, places and things. I don’t know about you, but for me that sentence is really, really overwhelming. Taken individually, everything on that list is something that I truly and honestly want to do — just not all at once or in such close concentration. Sometimes it’s like we get trapped in this rush of people, activities and opportunities, without finding space for those needed moments of quiet.

But college is what we make of it, and I think we can all create our own introverted niches at Tufts. After all, even though college is geared toward action and interaction, it’s also set up for you to be able to “do your own thing.” So, if you’re like me and "your own thing" is partially constituted by introversion, don’t shy away from that. Sit alone in your room and sip tea, skip out on a social event to go read a book, when you walk into the dining hall and don’t feel like talking, just find a corner and put in your earphones. It’s okay. Those “you-moments” are something your body needs — just like food, drink and sleep.

And anyway, introversion is something to be proud of, something to make the most of. Those reflective evening walks often give birth to the best ideas. There will be many days when your friends thank you for being able to listen instead of talk. Quiet is a kind of stimulation too, especially when your mind is so full of questions, thoughts and ideas. You want to know some other people who were introverts? Albert Einstein, Audrey Hepburn, Abraham Lincoln, Bill Gates, Rosa Parks and a whole lot of other pretty cool people. They couldn’t have done what they did if not for quiet resilience, introspection and the room to explore their own minds. So tell the world to shut up, appreciate yourself for what you are, and stay solo, my friends.

Sincerely,

Clara Wagner