By: Elizabeth Terrell, Contributing Writer
Do you find yourself tapping out from a party after only an hour or two of being there? Is it easier for you to study when you’re completely alone as opposed to studying with other people? Do you get stressed out when you have to do group projects or perform presentations in front of the class? Have you ever been accused of being “shy” or “antisocial” because of this? If you answered yes to all of these things, you may be introverted.
So how does this play out in Wofford’s campus life and social activities?
“I think an introvert is someone who prefers to spend a great deal of time in solitude,” Michelle Moss, ’17, says. “They keep to themselves and prefer to be around people to whom they’re already close to, instead of reaching out.”
When asked if she thought that Greek Life can be difficult for those who are introverted, she said, “No, I think that Greek life can be very accommodating for people who are of both personality types. They don’t see people who are less social as being antisocial, and there are lots of events that can help more introverted people ease into this type of thing.”
Students may be under the impression that being an introvert means that you are antisocial or that you don’t like to be around people. This is a misconception that many have, and they tend to categorize people into two compartments: introverts and extroverts. Psychology professor John Lefebvre breaks down this idea:
“Introversion and extroversion exist on a continuum. Someone who is more introverted is not necessarily averse to being social. In fact, many people who are introverted do like to be around people, and they receive a high level of stimulation from interacting with other people. Introverted personalities are just more likely to become wound up by the noise and extended social interaction at a faster pace. They relish in the social environment, but find that they need to recede into a more quiet environment sooner than others might.”
Some students on campus may be feeling self-conscious about the fact that they are more introverted than others and feel some pressure to be more extroverted. The fact of the matter is 50.7 percent of people in the United States are more introverted, and 49.3 percent are more extroverted. Despite the narrow range of acknowledged personality styles in today’s society, many college campuses are geared toward introverted people in classroom settings.
“Wofford in particular is accommodating to these personality preferences due to the small classes and the emphasis on professor-student communication,” says Caleb Pierce, ‘17.
“Being introverted or extroverted is just one aspect of your personality,” Lefebvre says. “Somebody could be an introvert and still be social. It’s just a behavioral preference. It’s not as if they don’t like other people. I think Wofford has several on campus groups that cater to both personality preferences. There doesn’t seem to be pressure towards one thing or the other. The students have the option to get involved in things that are better suited to their personality.”
The consensus among the students that were asked about introversion and extroversion was that they seemed to agree.
“An introvert is someone who spends a lot of time in their own mind,” Pierce says. “They love to observe, and they’re very perceptive, which is why the classroom setting at Wofford can be very good for them. Being in their mind and spending time to process concepts is a ground state, and it is something that they need to return to after being with people for long periods of time. I personally like to go see the musicians and speakers that come and present at Wofford. I think it’s a great activity for those who prefer less social interaction.”
If there are students, particularly freshmen, who are concerned about how they can fit into the busy campus life here at Wofford, there are options.
“The Troubadour series on campus has different musicians of varying genres that come and perform and art talks that I like to go to,” says Pierce.
“Greek life has different events both on and off campus that are more conducive to students who are introverted,” says Moss. “Being introverted does not mean that you are antisocial or shy, and those personality tropes shouldn’t discourage you from getting out there and pursuing the things that make you comfortable and bring you happiness on campus.”
