I am probably 100% an extrovert. Now I know those aren’t the words you expected to hear when you opened this article, but bear with me I swear I have a point. As you all know, being an extrovert means that you love people, and being around them. For the most part, being around people, socializing, making new friends are all activities that reenergize me, however college has definitely changed my perspective on this.

I don’t care what anyone says, college is hard. Everyone always says that college will be the best four years of your life and that you’ll meet the friends you will have for the rest of your life. I am here, writing this article, to testify that it doesn’t seem like that at all in the beginning.

The first few weeks are difficult, very difficult. You’re finding yourself, your friend group, your new routine. Being an extrovert, I feel that it is ironically a little bit harder. Sure I can make friends easily, but not the staying up until 3 AM talking about space and religion and TV shows kinda friends. Now I know it’ll take time to build up this sort of friendships, so, in the meantime I’ve accepted being alone.

That sounds extremely gloomy, but I swear it’s not. Even though I’m an extrovert, this experience has shown me the beauty of being alone. And I think it’s really important for everyone to recognize that. Eating alone, studying alone, walking alone is so vital to your well-being in a crazy way. I love being around people, but when I’m by myself I have the time to collect my thoughts and I guess I never realized how much I needed that. When my friends have classes and I eat alone I put in my headphones and think about my day and get lost in my head. When I have the time, I read a book and sit by myself outside (if it’s not too windy), and it’s really, really nice. There’s a beauty in the moment when everything around you stills and it’s just you and your daydreams. That feeling of utter contentment and peace is hard to come by so appreciate it!

So basically what I’m saying is that I know it’s hard, it’s not supposed to be easy. Although being alone can seem like it’ll make things worse, it truly can have the opposite effect.