I Believe in Introverts by Karthiyesan

I Believe in Introverts by Karthiyesan - November 2018 Scholarship Essay

“I, an introvert, have the ability to make a difference and be successful. I am not shy or reserved but confident and powerful.”

I believe that being an introvert is 110% okay; in fact, it is awesome to be an introvert. I know an introvert can be successful. An introverted person can make a difference. Society has led me, along with many others, to assume that being introverted is “bad.” However, this is a total myth! Just because an introvert is different from an extrovert, people consider them to be weird and pitiful.... I used to believe that... but not anymore.
To this day, I remember walking into my Kindergarten classroom, afraid to leave my mother’s side because there were a vast amount of people. Out of fear, I had become reserved and preferred to keep to myself. Throughout elementary school, I stayed that quiet, shy kid. Middle school is what kept me that way. People often confuse introversion with shyness; however, these are two very different ideas. When someone is shy, they feel uncomfortable and nervous around other people. An introvert, on the other hand, can be confident but still need their “alone time.” Middle school was the time when I stereotyped all introverts as shy. As a result, I continued to believe that I, an introvert, will always be shy and awkward, so it isn’t a surprise that I had few friends and more than enough lonely, miserable years. Worst of all, I was ashamed of myself because I was different from the kids everyone loved. This continued halfway into high school, and it was accompanied by negative, dark emotions that pushed me further into the hole I was already in. The misinterpretation of this one word almost led me to take crazy measures.
Although I have suffered for a long time, I am happy that I now understand what an introvert truly is. With the help of friends, teachers, and my own will I have climbed out of that hole and have come to look at myself in a new way. I started to see myself as confident, friendly, and downright incredible. WIth this newfound discovery, I noticed all the perks that came with being an introvert: creativity, thoughtfulness, mindfulness, and compassion. On top of this, I also found an awesome superpower within me- I can energize myself by simply taking a few moments to be alone! After understanding what it means to be introverted, I have taken countless opportunities to talk at assemblies or as a guest speaker. I see now that I don’t have to be shy if I don’t want to; I have the potential to be confident. Looking from where I am now, there is no doubt in my mind that I can be successful.
Ultimately, being an introvert or extrovert is just a personality. There are benefits to both sides, but neither can trump the other. I now realize that, as introverts, “we don’t need to feel shame and guilt for not being outgoing in a society that praises those who are” (Amanda Bucci). We introverts have our own advantages. After a long, difficult journey, I am PROUD to be an introvert.