Suppose you’ve seen one particular person all the time, whether it’s on campus, in the workplace, in your spinning class, or at the local park, but you don’t know who this person is. You don’t know their name, their occupation, or their personality; you just know they exist. You notice every time you see this person, however, they have a certain melancholy demeanour to their poise, their appearance, and the way they walk. Some people might come to the conclusion that this certain human is shy, an introvert, or might have something going on in their lives that makes this person seem this way, and others might just say this person is down-right odd.

It’s natural for people to cut to conclusions about individuals who they don’t know or see around often and it’s natural for people to continue to keep their distance away from them. This isn’t necessarily the right or humane thing to do, but it happens all the time.

Being that individual who walks around campus with earphones in, hoodie up, and gaze angled downward, I understand what it’s like to be one who looks and feels like a walking mannequin. It’s not that I’m against conversing with my peers or having the pleasure of ignoring others, because that’s just rude. I just love listening to music when I walk from one place to another, so much that I get into a groove. I admit that I am shy, but I embrace this quality and use it to my advantage when developing my unique self, which is an ongoing process.

I cannot speak for everyone who is very connected to their emotions and thoughts, but I believe that every introvert has a hidden talent that no one would ever guess they would have by just viewing the outside cover. Might be surprising to some, but these underlying talents are usually creativity based and cannot be revealed unless people take the time to meet and get to know the extent of those unknown imaginations that lead to whimsical worlds. Through different types of artwork, like painting, sculpting, dance, voice, writing, composing, and make-up, secretive beings express their wild and glowing side. For some, strangers have to earn an introvert’s respect in order to fully embrace how amazing these quiet beings are.

When I meet new people, my main goal is to discover that concealed gift each person has to offer and when I do end up finding it, I feel like I discovered the greatest treasure in the world. Everyone has something unique and extremely special about them, which makes life beautiful and more enjoyable. Sometimes a blank gaze and a slouched back is just a seed waiting to bloom, a wrapped present ready to be opened by people who wonder, who are curious about others.

So if you find yourself standing or sitting next to someone who you’ve seen around, but never got to know them, now is that great opportunity to start that creative journey with somebody. Get creative with how you approach someone new, keeping in mind not to make them feel hostile or uncomfortable. Just a simple wave or a “hello” brings a relationship with someone a long way. A smile also makes a huge difference in someone’s day. You may even see something in yourself through someone else.