How to enjoy college as an introvert

Nadine Jallal | Opinion Editor

Growing up, students’ first exposure to college life is through the media, which often depicts the college experience as one full of parties, drugs and alcohol, late nights of fun, unplanned adventures and more. A lot of these depictions can ring true, but that experience is not accurate for all college students, nor is it desirable to all college students.

Entering college knowing nothing about the experience but the crazy stories from the media, an older sibling, a tour guide or any upperclassmen can feel daunting for introverts.

Everything that is attractive about a college experience, according to the majority, are activities not likely to be desired by introverted students. Even in movies, introverted characters are taken out of their comfort zones and are seen to flourish after entering the social scene, which is not at all accurate to what the real desires of introverts are. For example, movies like “Geek Charming” or “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” showcase introverts being pushed to enter the social scene.

Though not advertised, introverts can have fun in college too. The biggest first step to having fun in college as an introvert is to accept that being introverted is OK and appearing as so is not the end of the world. For example, eating in the dining hall alone can be relaxing if it is not spent worrying about how it looks. Pop some headphones in, listen to music or queue a good show and enjoy the meal. Everyone else is either not paying attention or worrying about how they look eating alone as well.

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