A Study in Introversion: Feeling Comfortable at College
By Features Editor Chloe Barrett
The campus is swarmed with people. Some have their heads down, weaving stealthily in between the crowds like a minute ripple in the ocean. They do not want to disrupt the functioning tide made up of groups, masses of human bodies pressed against each other, deep in the thick of conversation. You left your ideal environment behind, the quiet serenity of an isolated room, the many stacks of books beside your bed, the comfortable blanket that has the indescribable scent of what you assume to be childhood: simplistic safety. At the centre of this newfound fear is the resounding sense of worry: what if I don't fit in?
Taking the big step of deciding to attend college is many things. It is joyous, it is nerve-wracking, oftentimes exciting, but it can also not be the ideal environment for some people. With a student population that is likely to be much higher than your average secondary school, those with social anxiety and introverted tendencies can feel quite out of their respective comfort zones. I am an introverted person myself and more often than I would like, worry about the amount, or lack of, social interaction that I would indulge in. When you are standing on campus most days and happen to see groups of people intertwined in their many conversations, it can be difficult not to wonder if, on a personal level, you are doing something wrong. Even those who feel the most at peace and comfortable with who they are can stumble at times. It just comes with the territory of being human.
However, I, though not an expert by any stretch of the imagination, just want to tell you that if you happen to be feeling this way, you are not doing anything wrong. It is perfectly okay if you don’t want to meet up with the people from that random WhatsApp group chat that you felt obligated to join because everyone else was. If your ideal and productive college day involves you sitting on your own in lectures before heading for some solo study time and then returning home, that is perfectly okay. If it makes you feel both comfortable and happy within yourself, it is better than okay, in fact, it can be amazing! You should not feel guilty as you sit at home and scroll through Instagram, skipping through stories of people seemingly having the best night of their lives, because they are probably not. Anything you see on social media is curated to look perfect when in reality, very little is. You should not base your expectations of life on a few filtered seconds that the poster probably pondered over for many minutes. Live the way that your heart and mind implore you to. If that is eventually living in a rustic log cabin surrounded by towering trees and the crisp air of nature, go for it! Personally, I can think of nothing more delightful.
If you feel overwhelmed while you are on campus, put on some headphones and drown out the bustle. If you take a glimpse at those around you, chances are that most people are doing the same. The ideal place for a slice of escapism is, in my opinion, the library on campus. While it can get crowded during exam season, usually it is a quiet sanctuary occupied by those who just wish to get their work done or want a peaceful place to read. You are paying quite a hefty sum of money to attend college, so you might as well make the most of its facilities.
The most important thing to remember is that if you feel like you are sinking and need a place to recuperate, do not feel - in the slightest way - guilty to head home. Curl up on the couch and put a movie on. Let your social battery recharge, because life is ever so draining, and you deserve a moment of calm.
