Story By: Austin Fleskes
Two students sit next to each other in class. One of them speaks out loud, letting out all his thoughts and even cracking a few jokes. The other sits back quietly, knowing the answers but not wanting to speak out.
Introverts and extroverts are seen as two opposite sides of a coin; one being expressive and social while the other is very introspective and reserved. While they clearly have differences, they also have a lot of similarities.
According to the Myer’s Briggs Foundation, there is a very fine line between those who are extroverted and those who are introverted.
Extroverts are very outgoing and can usually speak a lot easier in front of people and even in front of crowds. They generally have a wide group of friends since they can talk to them so easily, and they tend to spend their time with this large group of friends rather than doing things by themselves.
However there are some drawbacks to this outgoing nature. A lot of extroverts jump very quickly into situations without thinking about it beforehand. Extroverts can also jump into projects very quickly without thinking about what they want to do or why they want to do it.
Introverts are often described as very reserved and reflective. They tend to prefer to spend time by themselves, rather than going out and being around large groups of people. In terms of friends, introverts usually have a smaller, more close-knit group of friends that they know very well, rather than a large group of friends that they don’t know as well.
Much like extroverts, being introverted can have its drawbacks. At times introverts can spend too much time reflecting on an event and can sometimes jump into action too late. They also can spend too much time doing projects on their own without referencing outside thoughts on what they have done.
“I think of it in the sense of not how much you talk, but your preference for talking,” said Tim Farrow, ThunderRidge’s school psychologist. Farrow says that being an introvert or an extrovert is actually more genetic than people realize. While nurture does play a part, nature has a very powerful hand in being an introvert or an extrovert.
Social studies teacher John Ameen, much like Farrow, says that being either introverted or extroverted is a mix between nature and nurture, coming partially from your genes and partially from your social experiences.
“Introverts, by research, are very deep thinkers and they tend to be more thoughtful in society. Extroverts put their energy put their energy into maintaining social relationships,” Ameen told me in terms of the two sides possibly having different energy levels.
We have seen through research what an introvert or extrovert should be by nature, but what how do students feel about being one or the other?
Senior Natalie Boyack says that she is more of an introvert than an extrovert. She told me that she enjoys to read and draw and be a part of activities that don’t involve as many people.
While Boyack does wish that she could put herself out their more, as she feels she doesn’t go out as much as she should, she enjoys being an introvert. “It makes me a more calm and peaceful person.”
Senior Liz Lucas, on the other hand, is a mix of an extrovert and an introvert. For her, it depends on the people that she is around. There are some people that she feels like more of an extrovert around, and others that she feels more introverted with.
Much like Boyack, Lucas enjoys being who she is as a mix between an introvert and an extrovert. “It’s just the way I am.”
Some students may regret being one or the other, wishing they could get out more or be alone more, but no matter what it is important that students embrace the fact that they are an introvert or an extrovert.
“It’s who you are. You have to embrace who you are as a person. You don’t want to change who you are,” said Ameen. He followed up by saying that it is best for people to surround themselves with those you understand, which can help students in the future.
Clearly the two sides do have a lot of differences and many students just fall into one category. But what is great about having these two different personality styles is that our society can balance itself out; getting people who can speak out and make social situations possible but also having people who can survey a situation and think deeply about a problem. It is necessary to our society to have both sides, as they both have tremendous impacts on everyone.
“The world needs both. If everybody was the same we wouldn’t have a range of ideas or a range of creativity. We would all think and do the same things,” said Farrow.
It is important to have a mix of different thought processes. If we had just introverts or just extroverts then we would all act very similar with very little differences.
It is best that people embrace that they are one or other, as each side have their own benefits and pitfalls. As long as we have both, our society will be a perfect blend of different people.
Introverts and extroverts are seen as two opposite sides of a coin; one being expressive and social while the other is very introspective and reserved. While they clearly have differences, they also have a lot of similarities.
According to the Myer’s Briggs Foundation, there is a very fine line between those who are extroverted and those who are introverted.
Extroverts are very outgoing and can usually speak a lot easier in front of people and even in front of crowds. They generally have a wide group of friends since they can talk to them so easily, and they tend to spend their time with this large group of friends rather than doing things by themselves.
However there are some drawbacks to this outgoing nature. A lot of extroverts jump very quickly into situations without thinking about it beforehand. Extroverts can also jump into projects very quickly without thinking about what they want to do or why they want to do it.
Introverts are often described as very reserved and reflective. They tend to prefer to spend time by themselves, rather than going out and being around large groups of people. In terms of friends, introverts usually have a smaller, more close-knit group of friends that they know very well, rather than a large group of friends that they don’t know as well.
Much like extroverts, being introverted can have its drawbacks. At times introverts can spend too much time reflecting on an event and can sometimes jump into action too late. They also can spend too much time doing projects on their own without referencing outside thoughts on what they have done.
“I think of it in the sense of not how much you talk, but your preference for talking,” said Tim Farrow, ThunderRidge’s school psychologist. Farrow says that being an introvert or an extrovert is actually more genetic than people realize. While nurture does play a part, nature has a very powerful hand in being an introvert or an extrovert.
Social studies teacher John Ameen, much like Farrow, says that being either introverted or extroverted is a mix between nature and nurture, coming partially from your genes and partially from your social experiences.
“Introverts, by research, are very deep thinkers and they tend to be more thoughtful in society. Extroverts put their energy put their energy into maintaining social relationships,” Ameen told me in terms of the two sides possibly having different energy levels.
We have seen through research what an introvert or extrovert should be by nature, but what how do students feel about being one or the other?
Senior Natalie Boyack says that she is more of an introvert than an extrovert. She told me that she enjoys to read and draw and be a part of activities that don’t involve as many people.
While Boyack does wish that she could put herself out their more, as she feels she doesn’t go out as much as she should, she enjoys being an introvert. “It makes me a more calm and peaceful person.”
Senior Liz Lucas, on the other hand, is a mix of an extrovert and an introvert. For her, it depends on the people that she is around. There are some people that she feels like more of an extrovert around, and others that she feels more introverted with.
Much like Boyack, Lucas enjoys being who she is as a mix between an introvert and an extrovert. “It’s just the way I am.”
Some students may regret being one or the other, wishing they could get out more or be alone more, but no matter what it is important that students embrace the fact that they are an introvert or an extrovert.
“It’s who you are. You have to embrace who you are as a person. You don’t want to change who you are,” said Ameen. He followed up by saying that it is best for people to surround themselves with those you understand, which can help students in the future.
Clearly the two sides do have a lot of differences and many students just fall into one category. But what is great about having these two different personality styles is that our society can balance itself out; getting people who can speak out and make social situations possible but also having people who can survey a situation and think deeply about a problem. It is necessary to our society to have both sides, as they both have tremendous impacts on everyone.
“The world needs both. If everybody was the same we wouldn’t have a range of ideas or a range of creativity. We would all think and do the same things,” said Farrow.
It is important to have a mix of different thought processes. If we had just introverts or just extroverts then we would all act very similar with very little differences.
It is best that people embrace that they are one or other, as each side have their own benefits and pitfalls. As long as we have both, our society will be a perfect blend of different people.