Introvert Care in College

Being an introvert during this time of year can be difficult. We have one semester under our belts and are headlong into winter, eagerly awaiting summer on the other side. In the meantime the hustle and bustle to and from class, the long lines in the grill, and the daunting tasks of attending office hours with your professor are daily struggles we introverts face. None of these sound like a good time to the introvert. So below I am going to list several ways you can either help take care of that special introvert in your life or, if you are the introvert, make sure you make it through the semester in one piece.

Plan Ahead

For most introverts this comes easy. We think ahead. Being strategic is essential to our survival. Planning our day means that we know how much energy we need to deposit at each pit stop. That meeting that you have to attend may need mental preparation to deal with all the extroverts talking over one another. The class that requires you to be a part of the dialogue with the professor means seeking out a moment where you can get in a solid comment. All of these activities can take it out of an introvert, so planning ahead is key.

Keep It Down

There is nothing worse than feeling like you do not have a voice. Introverts often have things to say, but maybe not as much as their extroverted brethren. When you are in the UCEN and a group of friends are hee-hawing over one another, there is probably an introvert lost in the shuffle. It can be difficult to make yourself heard as an introvert. But when we do, believe that we have put a lot of effort in speaking up.

Find Your Place

This is both literal and figurative. Physical spaces can affect your introvert in ways it may not affect you. Being in the presence of someone can be draining if it was not apart of the introvert’s master plan. Our energy reserves are only so deep. So we seek spaces that make us most comfortable and that usually means with few people or none at all. This also means that you, as an introvert, may gravitate to a special group who provides this kind of comfort. Find them, keep them, and cherish them. They will make these 4-6 years of college bearable if not enjoyable.

Communication

Introverts are notorious for preferring non-verbal forms of communication. As stated earlier, when we speak it is usually charged with a lot of our energy. This also means that when we do talk, it is important to us and holds a lot of weight. The worst thing you can do to an introvert is not listen to them when they are investing their time and effort in you. It is our precious gift to you. It is important we feel you think of it the same way.

Diversity

Although I may be making blanket statements about introverts, know that one shoe does not fit all. Use your best judgment, find out what works for your introvert. Ask questions and consider their answers. Doing this will bring out the best in your introvert and let them know you care about them. If you are an introvert yourself, be aware that extroverts need love, too, and even if our noisy cousins drain us, they are just doing their best to make it through college, too.