By Rhea Sinha
3rd Year, B.Tech (CSSE)

What exactly do we mean when we call a person an introvert or an extrovert? Is it just a social status that one adopts in order to keep up with the trend? Or something that we are born with and can eventually change according to our comfort? In basic terms, an introvert is a person who feels the best with their own thoughts and company. On the other hand, an extrovert is a person who loves to be with other people and put themselves out there.

On any given day, about 40 percent of the entire planet’s population has introverted personalities; around a year and a half back, I was in that 40 percent. Being naturally shy and having scored an Olympic medal in the field of overthinking, I had categorised myself as an introvert before any of my acquaintances could do so. Be it getting anxious when I am called out in class to answer a question or not putting enough effort into any opportunity in front of me.

It wouldn’t be fair to myself and the other 39.999 percent of people out there if I didn’t state the advantages of being an introvert. As an introverted person, you get to make friends with genuinely incredible people who will actually stand by you throughout your life. You have the power of being a great listener, which is a quality that most people do not acquire, and the inability to listen is commonly the root of all problems. Peace is a permanent resident of your mind, and a minimum drama policy becomes a centerpiece in your life.

The choice to move from being an introvert to an extrovert completely depends on you. For me, I wanted the advantages of both- I needed the confidence to speak out in front of thousands and lead by being an excellent listener. The transition to being an extrovert isn’t an overnight job, nor is it a compulsion for succeeding in life. Albert Einstein, Sir Issac Newton and Eleanor Roosevelt were all categorized as introverts: this didn’t stop them from achieving great heights in their respective fields. What matters is how you use your skills to your advantage. Being an introvert gives you an edge over others: you connect with your thoughts more than others, and if you are a person who loves to work alone, the skills you’ll learn as an introvert would only propel you forward. In contrast, an extroverted personality would enable you to have the confidence and optimism that pushes you to be the best version of yourself.

The online world has given us the opportunity to be out there and perform to the fullest while having the safety net of our comfort around us. Among other things, the motivation of flourishing ahead in whatever domain you dream of and having the company of friends can inspire you to gain the benefits of both personality types.

My introverted bubble burst after almost two years of online classes and college society meetings. I went from being the quiet kid shrouded amongst 100 other participants in the meeting, keeping all the witty remarks and valuable suggestions sealed in my mind, to organizing meetings and making sure no one else was hiding away like I used to.