When I came to college, and even throughout high school, I considered myself an introverted person. I spent most of my time alone or with my boyfriend, and even when I was with him I wanted to be alone sometimes.
I enjoyed times with friends but I loved running alone at school or sitting in my room watching makeup videos. When I came to college, I soon became a rock in bed, with no friends, my roommate was barely there and I was miserable, sad, and knew something had to change.
Coming into my second semester I knew I needed something different. I joined a Christian sorority and gained a whole new group of friends that I bonded with very quickly. I find myself never wanting to be in my room and constantly reaching out to my friends to hang out. I love coffee dates with friends and meeting people in my classes.
Not only did this transition change my outlook on college, but it allowed me to be more comfortable with myself. I use it to my best ability to show Christ's love towards others. Not only that, I have come to make quadruple the number of friends in this second semester than my first.
I put my worries to God and now that I have grown so much, I know he has blessed me with the bravery that this has taken. I was never super shy, but I never spoke first, walked with my head down, and canceled plans because I just couldn't do it. But now, I constantly want to reach out to people and become their friend.
Now when I am alone, I use the time to eat some of my favorite snacks, journal, do devotionals that I might have missed (hitting the snooze button is my guilty pleasure), and I catch up with mom and dad or high school besties! Although I can still be a little nervous and unhappy around all groups of people, I am slowly learning to get used to it and use it to my advantage.
Not only has this improved my social life, but my academia as well. I began talking in class more, being more comfortable with professors and overall achieving more in my school work.
Becoming more of an extrovert benefited my relationship with God, I am more open to praying with people, talking to people about him, and sharing his word.