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Student Life

Stop Confusing 'Shy' With 'Quiet'

They're really not the same thing.

Allison Turner

Oct 17, 2018

Longwood

106

Irving Martinez

My whole life I have been called "shy" due to not talking in large groups and not running around making friends with everyone. As I've gotten older, I've learned the actual definition of shy, and I know that instead of being shy, I'm quiet.

'Shy'' definition: being reserved or having or showing nervousness or timidity in the company of other people.

'Quiet'" definition: restrained in speech, manner, etc; saying little.

If I am in a place with large amounts of people, the chances of me talking a lot are slim to none. It's not because I'm scared or I don't want to talk, my voice usually is not heard over others and I choose not to say anything. I don't get nervous when I do have to talk, I just choose not to say anything.

I love to talk, but when I want to and when I have something to say. Most of my friends will tell you that there are times when I never stop talking and they wish they could put a muzzle on me. I'm never afraid or nervous to tell people things, even if they are random, I just talk when I feel like it and when I have something to say.

I love to meet new people, really, I do. I'm not outgoing, I'm introverted, but when I get to meet new people I enjoy it. I usually am quiet when I meet new people not because I'm shy, but because I don't really know what to say. I have gotten better over the years, but I'm still pretty quiet until you get to know me. But that does not mean that meeting new people and talking to them isn't something I enjoy, because I really do like it a lot.

I also love to talk in front of other people, like public speaking. I've never had a problem going in front of people to give a speech or to perform, it's something I thoroughly enjoy doing. Those are the moments when I truly am myself and I have a lot of things to say.

If I was shy, then I wouldn't do any of these things. I wouldn't be able to go talk in front of people or I wouldn't want to make new friends due to being nervous or timid, per the definition. Just because I choose not to say much if I am around larger groups of people, does not mean that I am shy. It just means I am quiet and I choose when and what I talk about. Stop confusing quiet with shy, they're two different things.

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