Social Me #2

It is usually assumed that an introvert is a person that is really quiet and antisocial. This is not the case. The most talkative person you know could be an introvert. An introvert is someone who would rather stay at home by himself or herself than go out with friends. This can be for a multitude of reasons including uncomfortable feelings around others, previous experience with bullying or verbal abuse, or even physical exhaustion. True introverts can be very cautious and are self-conscious about themselves, so they seclude themselves and remain alone.
One main reason that some people prefer to be alone is that it keeps them away from the judgment of others. Peers can hurt a person deeply, especially during the teenage years. When others do not accept you, it hurts, and being criticized by your friends can affect your life in powerful ways. When one is alone, there is no possibility of being turned down or criticized as there is nobody else around. Although this doesn’t create an opportunity for making friends, sometimes the fear of rejection can override the possibility of succeeding, no matter what the situation is.
Previous verbal or physical abuse can also make someone avoid others and spend time alone. For example, if a child has been bullied at a previous school for the pat few years and then moves to a new school, he will most likely take more time to warm to a new environment than another new student who was well-liked and welcome at his old school. The kid who was bullied most likely has lost trust for kids his age because of the abuse he has taken at his old school. This doesn’t mean he is a lost cause; trust can always be rebuilt, but it will take a much longer time for him to build solid relationships.
However, it’s not always a major issue that makes people want to be alone. Some days are good, and some days are bad, and I know that when I’ve had a bad day, I don’t always want to be a social butterfly. Every day comes with it’s own challenges, and sometimes people find that the easiest way to deal with problems is to tackle them alone. Daily life is tough, and sometimes it is best fought alone.
To understand the benefits of being alone, one must have an understanding of what it’s like interacting in a group and what some of the disadvantages of being with people are. In a high school situation, there are all kinds of things one has to watch out for in a conversation. If you say something wrong or offensive that makes someone else angry, then you will still have to deal with this person for the rest of your high school life. There is tons of pressure put on you to communicate well, and sometimes it’s a good idea to spend a little time alone.
There are advantages and disadvantages to being with others, as well as advantages and disadvantages to being alone. It is probably best to have a mix of both to try to get the best of both worlds, but whether you are an introvert or an extrovert, it is obviously better to lean towards what you are comfortable doing.