In middle school, I struggled with making new friends and learning new language at the same time. I spent long time to make new friends. When I came to Emory University, my biggest concern was to meet new people and create new relationship. Peter is one of my best friends in Emory University who understands my characteristics. Since he realizes and understands my introverted personality, I decided to interview him to show how introverts are portrayed in the society and how it differs from stereotypical view.
Me: Are you an extrovert or an introvert? How do you know?
Peter: I think of myself as both. I am not as good as other people when it comes to meeting people out of nowhere. However, it’s easy for me to meet new people of the same interest. When there’s an opportunity to stand up and speak, I become shy, but when I’m asked or assigned to speak publicly I become passionate and stand up.
Me: Do you know the difference between introversion and extroversion?
Peter: I’ve always thought of an introvert as someone who doesn’t speak in public a lot. Personally, I label someone who prefers meeting with only someone who they are already familiar with. Also, when asked to speak in public, he or she can’t speak clearly and trembles. On the other hand, extrovert is someone who is eager to meet new people, speak in public, and knows how to speak clearly and loudly. In my opinion, extroverted people are those who are capable of taking the challenge to meet other people and explore a broader view of the world.
Me: Do you know an introverted person? Are they similar to each other?
Peter: I know a few. Yes they are similar to each other because I label people as introverts based on a set list of characteristics. Or at least I know for sure the people are introverted as they are because it’s taken a few months or weeks to get to know them.
Me: What do you always tell me when I am with closer friends?
Peter: I tell you that you act totally differently. What I usually see of you is someone who never talks directly to the public, but talks through me. But when you meet with your close friends or me, you speak continuously and passionately. Sometimes it surprises me to see you like that.
Me: What did you think about introverts and does your view relate to society’s view on them?
Peter: I feel sympathy for them. It feels as they don’t take any advantage of what other people offer, and mostly I think they don’t get the chance to make a name for themselves. Also, I’ve seen many times where introverts are forgotten in a meeting or a party, and people don’t even notice they’re not present. Most of the introverts seem depressed, and I don’t feel energy in them when I talk to them.
Me: Did your view on introverts change after meeting me?
Peter: Yes. I didn’t get the chance to meet and talk a lot with introverted people. But after I met you, I learned that introverted people give more thought to their actions and speech. I’ve thought they don’t learn much from others; in my opinion they seemed like they were ignoring other’s thoughts and so they didn’t wish to share theirs. But after I’ve met you, I learned that people who wish to talk less accept other’s thoughts in a more sophisticated way.
Me: Are you an extrovert or an introvert? How do you know?
Peter: I think of myself as both. I am not as good as other people when it comes to meeting people out of nowhere. However, it’s easy for me to meet new people of the same interest. When there’s an opportunity to stand up and speak, I become shy, but when I’m asked or assigned to speak publicly I become passionate and stand up.
Me: Do you know the difference between introversion and extroversion?
Peter: I’ve always thought of an introvert as someone who doesn’t speak in public a lot. Personally, I label someone who prefers meeting with only someone who they are already familiar with. Also, when asked to speak in public, he or she can’t speak clearly and trembles. On the other hand, extrovert is someone who is eager to meet new people, speak in public, and knows how to speak clearly and loudly. In my opinion, extroverted people are those who are capable of taking the challenge to meet other people and explore a broader view of the world.
Me: Do you know an introverted person? Are they similar to each other?
Peter: I know a few. Yes they are similar to each other because I label people as introverts based on a set list of characteristics. Or at least I know for sure the people are introverted as they are because it’s taken a few months or weeks to get to know them.
Me: What do you always tell me when I am with closer friends?
Peter: I tell you that you act totally differently. What I usually see of you is someone who never talks directly to the public, but talks through me. But when you meet with your close friends or me, you speak continuously and passionately. Sometimes it surprises me to see you like that.
Me: What did you think about introverts and does your view relate to society’s view on them?
Peter: I feel sympathy for them. It feels as they don’t take any advantage of what other people offer, and mostly I think they don’t get the chance to make a name for themselves. Also, I’ve seen many times where introverts are forgotten in a meeting or a party, and people don’t even notice they’re not present. Most of the introverts seem depressed, and I don’t feel energy in them when I talk to them.
Me: Did your view on introverts change after meeting me?
Peter: Yes. I didn’t get the chance to meet and talk a lot with introverted people. But after I met you, I learned that introverted people give more thought to their actions and speech. I’ve thought they don’t learn much from others; in my opinion they seemed like they were ignoring other’s thoughts and so they didn’t wish to share theirs. But after I’ve met you, I learned that people who wish to talk less accept other’s thoughts in a more sophisticated way.