“Humans are social creatures.”
“Don’t be shy.”
“Do you work well in groups?”
The social, and educational, systems of our time focus intensely on extroversion. Work places are being restructured to take a more communal approach to coworker collaboration, and everywhere in primary through post-secondary schooling, a push for group activity and team building is quite strong. It seems as if the qualities of introversion are being sidelined by the social, networking aspects of extroversion. Regardless of if you have introverted qualities, extroverted qualities, or a bit if both, it is important to recognize that your strength is contained inside of YOU.
Many Brescia students will be taking part in the orientation week’s activities, especially those of you who just moved into the new residence pavilion. Sociable Sophs are likely doing a good job of recruiting everyone’s participation in events and team-building activities, trying to help new Brescia students incorporate themselves into our community.
Amidst all of the hustle of ‘back-to-school’ excitement, remember who you are! Whether you prefer to be alone or to be with others, prefer going to a movie or prefer reading, prefer writing poetry or prefer playing rugby, embody it! No body or thing can validate you; you give yourself meaning, just by being who you truly are. When you live like that, there will not be a false need to seek approval elsewhere.
Communication is sharing a passion, an interest, at the same intensity, with the same attention, with some body else. You will only be able to be truly communicate with someone when you are both passionate about what is being shared; be true to yourself, and when you find someone whom you can communicate with, you will realize the preciousness of accepting who you are.
This TED talk is about the power of introversion and extroversion. This got me thinking about the importance of being true to yourself when pushing comfort zones – situations that you may find yourself in during orientation week.
Welcome, or welcome back, to Brescia!
Emily
PS. Most recently, the Brescia Foundation revealed that the Ursuline Sisters of Chatham donated $20,000 for the new residence. Take a moment to reflect on the significance of charity, and appreciate that because of both individual and group altruism, we have a brand new, long-lasting building. It is the community of support behind Brescia that allows dreams like a library, food lab, residence building to materialize – proof that power is in your aspirations to improve the world.