going to start off my talk by giving all
of you a little personality test now I
want you to imagine they are at a party
with your friends chatting and
interacting with other people now at
this party are either one to lead the
group conversation making everyone laugh
with your funny and humorous nature when
the music’s playing your favorite song
at full volume are either one – get up
start dancing creating attention as
everyone crowds around to watch your
moves if this is highly relatable to
your behavior in that you get a lot of
your energy from being surrounded by
other people then you’re an extrovert on
the other hand maybe you’re enjoying
this party at first but if you’re
anything like me one hour later you’re
probably sitting in a quiet area
pertaining to text someone when secretly
you’re praying to God that this will end
so I can go home read a book and better
watch Netflix and if this is highly
relatable to your behavior in that
continually having to build up
conversation with others is tiring for
you then I can relate because like me
you’re an introvert so despite these
contrasting differences displayed
between introverts and extroverts it’s
not to say that a person can be both
although I am primarily primarily an
introvert I do have some extraversion in
me I enjoy being compass around a small
group of individuals nevertheless I love
spending time to myself as it obviously
function and think better loud parted
areas is not my go-to place and for me
giving a talk in front of 500 people is
much less stressful than having to
mingle with all those people afterwards
so despite these so although I’m proud
with Who I am right now for an extensive
part of my life that wasn’t always the
case my years of elementary school were
filled with shame and self-hatred
because I deeply desire the social
attention that most extroverts get now
these feelings all started eight years
ago when my family made the decision of
moving from Mississauga to Markham in
the summer of 2009 I was starting my
first day of elementary school and my
new first day of fourth grade on my new
elementary school
and I was very nervous to make new
friends I was quiet and kept to myself a
lot during my first day of school which
is normal for every new student I mean
who doesn’t right
however this introverted behavior of
mine didn’t change much throughout the
years and it was more displayed in
school situations I refused to raise my
hand up in class and whenever given the
opportunity I’d always choose to work
alone on assignments mostly because I
think better alone so because of this I
was constantly told by others to come
out of my quiet shell at every
parent-teacher interview my parents
would hear the same statement your
daughter is very smart but she needs to
learn to talk more so my struggle in
elementary school was to stand out in a
community where everyone seemed to be
extroverts the friends that I made were
so much more social and outgoing than I
was and I grew up in a pretty
extroverted family I mean my mom parents
my parents sister cousins were all
talkative and likable people and I hated
it when people compared my level of
socialization to my sister
like many I’d hear the same statement as
read that your sister is so funny and
talkative why are you so quiet
so through all these experiences I’m
sure you can understand that I was
considered a worrisome case in the eyes
of all these people however these people
are blinded by the fact that there are a
lot of benefits to being an introvert
like me facts have stated that
introverts have a great imagination
we’re very creative we’re very observant
introverts think before they act and
we’re great listeners so through all
these amazing benefits why has society
put so much importance and value on
extroverts and being extroverted now I
must say at this point of my talk that
I’m not suggesting we bring down the
extroverts or anything because I love
social and outgoing people nevertheless
I find that I’m constantly asking myself
why must I change my personality type in
order to fit society’s norm
unfortunately I believe the core problem
starts with our schools as they are only
designed for extroverts teachers feel as
though as though that ideal student is
one that can raise their hand up in
class direct others what to do and is
pretty much talkative when you enter a
typical classroom
you’ll see pods of desks together in
groups of four to five so that peers are
forced to chat and interact with one
another which is amazing to a certain
extent but for introverts who just want
some peace and quiet sometimes not so
much even the valedictorian awards and
position of class president are given
out to those who are more social
outgoing and let’s face it pretty much
popular so this brings me to the
question you’ve all been waiting for
what now I believe that teachers should
stop with the pressure for group work
and collaboration because as amazing as
it is to share opinions and ideas with
others
like the great Susan Cain once said
solitude matters and for some it’s like
the air we breathe so the more freedom
we give introverts to be by themselves
and work by themselves the more creative
ideas and problems they’ll be able to
solve whether it’s with school or
something even greater so poorly this
stage there’s one more message I want to
send across and that’s for all of you to
understand and appreciate your own
personality traits don’t try to change
yourself in order to fulfill everyone
else does everyone else’s desires and by
doing that we can open and create a
world that accepts all types of birds
thank you very much [Applause]
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