Balancing Introverted and Extroverted Personalities
Society has changed from respecting the solitary thinker to valuing loud and outgoing people. Constant group participation is now considered a necessity. Today's education system is a great example of these ideals. Schools assign group projects left and right, even in cases where a group project isn't necessary or doesn't benefit the student much at all. Students are expected to always participate with the greater group, and those without a large group of friends are considered not popular or an outcast.
Students who don't meet these requirements are often thought to not like others, or even worse, considered a problem case. Because of these assumptions by more extroverted people, introverted kids think that there is something wrong with them, that they are a problem case, that they aren't outgoing enough. They then strive to be more extroverted and ignore their introverted callings. Bias towards extroverts steals peoples' personalities from them. As Susan Cain put it, "Today we make room for a remarkably narrow range of personality styles. We're told that to be great is to be bold, to be happy is to be sociable. We see ourselves as a nation of extroverts - which means that we've lost sight of who we really are." This stigma isn't true and it needs to end.
Even though introverts and extroverts really are quite different from each other, it doesn't mean that they can't exist harmoniously. Introverts need to be accepted for who they are, not constantly being pushed to be more extroverted. Society needs to change so that there is room for group projects as well as solitude. Allow the introverts in your life to be themselves. Let them be alone when they need to be and give them an appropriate amount of space. Introverts, don't let others get you down. Introverts are a gift to the world and shouldn't be pushed down. Accept who you are; a quiet soul that has every ability shake the world with your silence.
Students who don't meet these requirements are often thought to not like others, or even worse, considered a problem case. Because of these assumptions by more extroverted people, introverted kids think that there is something wrong with them, that they are a problem case, that they aren't outgoing enough. They then strive to be more extroverted and ignore their introverted callings. Bias towards extroverts steals peoples' personalities from them. As Susan Cain put it, "Today we make room for a remarkably narrow range of personality styles. We're told that to be great is to be bold, to be happy is to be sociable. We see ourselves as a nation of extroverts - which means that we've lost sight of who we really are." This stigma isn't true and it needs to end.
Even though introverts and extroverts really are quite different from each other, it doesn't mean that they can't exist harmoniously. Introverts need to be accepted for who they are, not constantly being pushed to be more extroverted. Society needs to change so that there is room for group projects as well as solitude. Allow the introverts in your life to be themselves. Let them be alone when they need to be and give them an appropriate amount of space. Introverts, don't let others get you down. Introverts are a gift to the world and shouldn't be pushed down. Accept who you are; a quiet soul that has every ability shake the world with your silence.