Question : I am in 9th standard and I just started in a new school. I am an introvert and it is very difficult for me to make friends and adjust. Whenever I try to talk with someone, they don’t reply back or they reply with a lot of attitude. It feels like no one likes to talk to me and it also feels like that I am not part of the school or class. Please give me some advice that how I can be an extrovert.
Dear Teentalker,
Thank you for reaching out to us with your concern. I can understand that adjusting in a new school, new environment, new people, new teachers, new everything can be a challenge and a gradual process. It can make us feel so overwhelmed and alone sometimes.
While it may feel like no one wants to talk to you, you must give it time. If you just changed your school then let people adjust to you like you are adjusting to them. It takes time for people to open up to you, especially when you are new. It can be a very confusing and lonely experience at times when you’re the new student. Not feeling like you belong is very common when you’re new to a place. Give it sometime until you acclimate to the school. Gradually, you will fit in better and feel more like you belong.
It is not necessary for you to change your personality altogether so that you can blend with your new peers. You can be both introverted and extroverted which is also called an ambivert. To bring in elements of an extrovert personality into your introvert self, you can first and foremost take part in school’s extracurricular activities like drama, singing, art, music, sports, etc. You can also be more participative in class during lectures.
Remember, being an introvert is not a bad thing. It is who you are and that is unique. Introverts can also make new friends and be involved in external activities and interactions. You can take your time to find people you gel with and interact with them about your interests, hobbies, likes and dislikes. You can try talking about what movies you watch, what your favourite subjects are, what you like to eat, what you do during holidays, how your old school was, and likewise. Others will also be interested in learning more about you. Give them some time. If it becomes too uncomfortable, please connect with your new teachers or if there is a guidance counsellor in your school.
Hope this is helpful. If you wish to discuss anything further, please chat with us from Monday through Saturday between 11am and 8pm or leave us an offline message.
Regards,
Expert Teentalk India