There is a super common misconception that if you’re an extrovert, you’re outgoing, and if you’re introvert, you’re shy, but that is definitely not the case; there’s so much more to it than that. For the purposes of this piece, we will define extrovert and introvert in the following ways: an extrovert is someone who gets their energy from being around people and having social interaction; an introvert is someone who gets their energy from being alone (There is also a mixture of the two, which is called being an ambivert, but that’s a story for another time).
So, you’re an introvert, huh? Me too. And I didn’t even realize it fully until I got to college. In high school, I’d go out with my friends after school almost every day. We made frequent plans to get together on the weekends, and everything was dandy. I’d taken a bunch of those Myers-Briggs personality tests, and I consistently was told that I was an ENTP, the E standing for extrovert (Honestly, the description for ENTP fits me perfectly, so maybe I’m actually an ambivert, but who’s to say?). But after getting to college, everything felt different.
You’re surrounded by people all the time. And that sounds great to an extrovert, I guess, but I was starting to burn out by the fourth week of school. It was official; I was an introvert, and I couldn’t keep up that high-intensity social lifestyle for much longer.
College sounds great in theory: parties, living with your friends, fun events every weekend. But, for an introvert, navigating college life can look a little different.
You really don’t mind eating alone in the dining hall
A lot of people need to have someone to go with them to eat. They call up fifteen different friends to see who’s free to go to the dining hall, and if no one’s available, then they just go get something from LaFun instead. If I can’t immediately find someone to eat with, that’s fine, I’ll go by myself. It’s a nice time to catch up on my pleasure reading anyway.
You hide out in your room a lot
My friends say they’re worried about me because I go MIA a lot, but I’m really just in my room. After going to class all day, going to club meetings, and group projects, I just want to crawl underneath the blankets on my bed and hide away for the rest of the night. Finding a good place to just be alone with my own thoughts is a struggle.
You’ve had to get creative in finding some peace
Night walks are the best things ever! Even if you’re not an introvert, I would recommend that everyone make time for a nice stroll outside at night. I do this sometimes when I just need to collect my thoughts, and it’s amazing. Notre Dame has such a beautiful campus, and the night adds a level of allure and mystery that leaves you feeling quite peaceful. It’s a great way to recharge.
Introverts are not averse to fun social events. It’s just that after the party is over, we need to go back to our dorms and just crash. I love to party and will shake it on the dance floor, but after a long night, I need more than just sleep. Until I’ve had a chance to curl up with a cup of tea and Netflix, I haven’t really rested. But that’s just how the cookie crumbles as a college introvert.
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