The Unashamed Introvertish Girl Blog

Good Day to All Readers,

In college you meet a lot of different people. And when I say different, I really do mean different. People will be from different cities, different states, different countries, and different continents. Although this fact is often overlooked, and college is never really looked at this way, it’s sort of like a melting pot.

Not only do people with different origins come together to learn, but people of different economic background, personality types, religions, educational interests, talents, gifts, resources and general perspectives on life come together to learn, live, and make up a richly diverse community.

It sounds beautiful. And personally, I think it is; however, with the unification of such diverse individuals, sometimes comes questions and misconceptions. The former, no matter how uncomfortable it may seem, is always better than the latter.

Here’s a story that I actually lived where this notion dropped into my soul.

A few months ago, when I was in school, I was sitting at my desk staring at the wall. Now, before you start to mentally dismiss me as crazy, think about how you start to feel when you’ve been doing homework for hours. Okay, back to the story. While staring into space and trying to refocus on my homework, I heard a very bold statement that brought me back to full attention.

The statement infuriated me more than anything. It wasn’t a total shock because I had heard similar statements just weeks before, but none as frank. Someone who had visited my room had confidently stated that everyone from my area was ignorant as (expletive).

This person is someone who I considered and still do consider a generally nice and respectable person. However, the post is not about the person, it’s about the misconception.

When I heard the statement I immediately responded that I was from the area that was mentioned. I then began to think of all the family, friends and other people of importance to me that live there. The statement was general and probably faceless as well.

When we state and believe the many stereotypes floating around in the abstract atmosphere of our minds, we often forget that people we know and see every day may be affected and fall under the category of what we say/believe. The person did not know that I was from the place being discussed and explained that the statement was not meant to offend.

Everyone is entitled to their own beliefs and choice of words; however, it would be nice if we took each other into consideration and/or got to know each other a little better before we let misconceptions take over our lens on life and people.

Not with Judgment, but with Suggestion,

Unashamed Introvertish Girl

Good Day to all Readers,

I have finally completed my freshman year of college. If you’re thinking, “Wow! That was fast,” you’re not alone, so am I. College goes by really fast, but the rapidity of the experience does not limit the lessons you will have learned by the time you exit the educational institution. I learned a lot academically, spiritually, health-wise, and generally about life. This is not to say that you will have the answer to all of life’s hardest, most difficult questions after a single year of college; however, you will most likely come out a tad more sure of yourself, and confident due to the fact that you have just made a countless number of serious decisions using your own judgment. To anyone wondering about “the change” that happens to students after the first year of college, I would say: don’t come out of your freshman year of college expecting to be an entirely different person, but don’t expect to leave the same way you came in. Maturity, like many other valuable qualities of life, takes time.

College is a time of great opportunity for everyone. Opportunities of every kind are waiting to be pursued by students regardless of your major, background, or personality type. Nervousness may loiter around you for the next few months leading up to your big departure, but don’t let it consume you. It can be stifling and stop you from pursuing many great opportunities and life-changing experiences such as joining clubs, going to events, forming friendships, and possibly even challenging yourself academically. Nervousness however, isn't something I would worry about too much. There’s something about being sent to live on your own and suddenly make your own major life decisions that just rips nervousness right out of you. Most of the time you don’t even notice it’s gone until you go back to a place you frequented before going off to college, like home, and realize that you react differently to familiar situations.

As an introvert and a somewhat demure woman, I can say that college has helped me to face daily situations all of kinds with more confidence and strength realizing that with God by my side, I have already overcome one of the biggest challenges of life, college. In a nutshell, college, like many other things in life, is what you make it. What do you want to get out of your collegiate experience?

With Yet Another New Outlook on Life,

Unashamed Introvertish Girl

p.s. I really like this song and thought it went along with the post, so I just threw it in here. Give it a listen, you'll probably like it!

The Following Weeks (New Friends)

The "door answerer" position lasted for a couple of weeks, then I decided to quit and take on a job that’s a lot more rewarding and a little more challenging for a young woman of the introverted nature. I decided to quit sitting around my room and invest in some of the connections that I had made around campus. One of the three extra-curricular activities that I have joined so far is a bible study group on campus. This was a great opportunity to meet people who were just like me and to stay renewed in my Christian faith. Of course there are always differences, but I’ve always been a firm believer that our similarities outweigh our differences. It had been about my fourth Monday in college, just after an involvement fair which is a huge fair that colleges and universities have to showcase the many prospective extracurricular activities that a student looking to get involved around campus can join. I found out about the student run group on my school’s involvement website and saw representatives from the bible study group at the involvement fair. I grabbed a card with the meeting times and dates on them and on the following Monday, I decided to attend. I didn’t know what to expect when I arrived, but I went with the intention of expecting something great.

I grabbed my student ID and key which I wore on a purple chain suspended from my neck, grabbed my purse, and I was off. The meeting was held in my school’s union which is literally right across the street from my residence tower. It was in a medium sized room right outside of one of my school’s main food courts. I walked past groups of students eating, talking and studying in the popular area, and then there I was. The room was so dim, I almost couldn’t tell whether or not anyone was in there; however, the atmosphere of the room was a pleasant and refreshing contrast to it exterior looks. When I finally stepped into the room, I was greeted with a hug and a warm hello from a girl that I had never seen before. She made me feel really welcome and comfortable despite the lingering feelings of nervousness and apprehension that tried to dominate me. Throughout the introductory meeting, I meet several young women and a few young men who had the same kind and warm demeanor. Mostly everyone was older than me, and had been at the university for at least a year. This was the start of many valuable friendships that I still maintain to this day. Because of joining this bible study group, I can say that for the most part, my college experience so far has not been a lonely one. It has been an experience that I have been able to share with people whom I have strong commonalities with.

My college experience so far has not been without challenges and questionable instances, but I can honestly say, that it has been good. Being in college has allowed me to realize many critical lessons that will faithfully remain in my soul forever. One of these lessons is about living in the moment. I’m a firm believer in planning for the future and bettering oneself now for later in life; however, too often we forget to enjoy the now. When I look back at many self-proclaimed, “difficult” times in life, I smile with the newfound realization, that they really weren’t that bad.

With New Perspectives of Old Situations,

Unashamed Introvertish Girl

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Dealing with Stereotypes (A Hard Subject to Discuss)

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