When I was in high school, I was a member of the school’s speech and debate team. One of the events that all freshmen and sophomores on the team were required to do was called Declamation. The event entailed the competitor reciting an already existing speech by memory in front of a judge.
Normally, the speeches would be a Ted Talk and within a 10 minute time limit, the speaker would perform the speech. We were judged on delivery, how the words flowed together and hand gestures are very important to get a point across. The person will not just recite the speech in a monotone voice
The beginning of my sophomore year my coach gave me the Ted Talk, “The Power of Introverts” by Susan Cain. A central point of the talk is that being an introvert is not a weakness, but should be celebrated for the talents they bring.
When I was coming up with the idea for this article, I immediately thought back to that speech I gave as a teenager and how my relationship with that word has changed. I have questioned if I am shy or if I am an introvert? You might think those are the same things, but they are not.
According to the article “Shy vs. Introvert: Understanding the Dimensions of Introversion and Shyness” from Verywell Mind, the difference between the two can be seen in how these words are defined. Shy is a “Fear of negative evaluation, a tendency toward avoidance.” The definition of introvert is, “Becomes easily overstimulated and needs time alone to regain energy after spending time with people.”
Let’s go over the evidence to answer if I am shy. It took me a while to gain the courage to order food by myself in public and speak up when I might want something. Now, as an adult I have to make most of my doctor’s appointments by phone, and I have to hype myself up to just press the call button. I do feel that sometimes I have a hard time socializing with people though. It can be difficult to approach someone with a question I might have.
The one thing college has helped me with is getting out of my shell. If I want something, I don’t have my parents around me 24/7 to help me get it. If I have a question for a professor, I have to ask them to get the answer. I have to take action to socialize and make friends.
Besides writing for the newspaper, I also write for the university’s yearbook, which does require me to contact professors and students for interviews. I have to initiate the conversation to get the answers I need for a story. I’ve had to overcome my aversion to talking to people I do not know. This is how I start to make connections with people.
Now, am I an introvert? I think that Merriam Webster gives a better definition of the word. They define it as, “a typically reserved or quiet person who tends to be introspective and enjoys spending time alone.” I do like spending time alone as much as I like hanging out with my friends. My ideal day is just me alone with a book and my headphones.
When someone first meets me, I can be quiet, but after a while of knowing me, I can be very outgoing and bubbly to my friends and family. I will be laughing and telling jokes the whole time. I can be excited to meet new people and find common interests.
How can I be reserved, shy, introverted or private and still have been in speech and debate? Wouldn’t I have stage fright? Well, not necessarily, as a child I was in dance and I was never scared to go up on stage. When I would go up to perform a speech, I would almost go on autopilot while speaking. The words would just come out of me.
I never really believed in calling myself an introvert or shy. One time in art class in high school the teacher made the class take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator. This personality test is considered pseudoscience.
I was given the personality type of INTJ which stands for introverted, intuitive, thinking and judging. I do not think a test can describe anyone’s personality. I think a better personality test would be taking a quiz to see which American Girl character you are. Or my favorite suggestion, thinking about which March sister from “Little Women” you might be? Are you Meg, Jo, Beth or Amy?
Humans are complex and show different parts of themselves to different people. I can be shy and quiet to one group and outgoing to the next.