My Involvement Shaped My Personality

As I have gotten older, some of the introversion has faded to a certain extent, but it is still present. Through my job as a Special Education Teacher, I have had to overcome a majority of my introversion so I can effectively do my job. On any given day, I will have to speak to not only my students but also the office staff, coworkers, and possibly some of the children’s parents. Conversation goes both ways, so to be successful at my job; I would have to be willing to be open and communicate with others more. I also have to realize that I need to make the first step sometimes. Not everyone is going to come to me; there are times I am going to have to go to others.

Addressing the first reason, character, I believe that there are a number of traits that show good character, and many of these are shown through activities such as sports, band, or anything that encourages working as a team towards a common goal. The activities that I am involved in includes a number of sports, such as soccer, cross country, basketball, and track. However, character is not limited to sports, and is shown in other ways as well. For me, the most significant of these activities is band. Each of these events that I have named I’ve been involved for years, and I feel that each of these teaches character through responsibility, respect, diligence, integrity, and team building skills to name a few traits.

I come from a world where I have an exceedingly supportive family. I am extremely blessed, as they have encouraged me to do much more with my life than I could have ever imagined. Growing up, I was taught the importance of values and pushing through adversities. I believe that the world I come from has truly shaped my aspirations because without my family and close friends I would not be where I am today.

Honestly for most of my life I've never been the most outgoing person in the world. I suppose a stranger would've called me reserved, but I knew that deep down inside that I had the ability to not be “that shy girl”.In time it did turn out I did have that I did have the ability not to be so quiet but it did take me quite a while; one experience in particular did in a way force me to come out of my shell.

For instance, as a three-season athlete, I understand the importance of commitment to a project for maximum results. Also, my experience working in athletic teams has made me flourish in leadership and group work. Likewise, as a student Desk Attendant at the Dickinson Waidner-Spahr Library, I received a promotion to a position as Student Supervisor due to my attentiveness while on the job.

Since kindergarden, I have thought my personality. I forced myself out of my comfort zone time and time again by trying to talk to people and joining in conversations I had no interest in or things that I was not knowledgeable about. However, these efforts quickly proved of no help to me, all it did was drain me of energy and left me confused about myself and my personality. My peers still called me quiet and also shy some even referencing my apparent aversion to socializing. As I am beginning my senior year of high school, I started to consider introversion and how it is perceived and treated by society. Eventually, I these “myths” that are perceived by society that extroverts and ambiverts (those with characteristics of both introverts and

Apparently only 12% of the population is more introverted than I am. I was that rare teenager whose parents actually had to encourage him to spend time with friends and who had to ask me "so when are you going to get a date" - a shocking question from a parent even for a thirty-something. However, overall I find this measure of extroversion also to be of limited value. I am after all a public school teacher, a profession that I indicated I extremely enjoy because of the interaction it allows with students and colleagues. After hours though I like to "cacoon" in my classroom or home, which sometimes seem to be the same

I believe character is defined as your moral qualities in which shape your attitude. Based on my definition character is shaped by things that happen in your own life that are different and distinguishable as moments that have changed you. There have been many moments in my life from early in my childhood that have changed me and shaped my character. If I had to pick a period of events that helped shape my character in a major way, I would say it would be the majority of my life up to this point. To give some background to this, I grew up in a small town in Southern Indiana. The only opportunities in this town are to go work in a factory and most of the long time residents turn to drugs. My Mother had instead turned to alcohol after an accident.

There are many things in my life that has influenced my identity. I think the one that has made me who I am the most is being in cheerleading. I joined cheer in middle school, when I was in seventh grade. I was never confident in myself before this, and I never would have guessed that now, I would be a highschool cheerleader.

With millions of different people in this world, the one thing that separates us from the rest is our identity and who we are as individuals. So that leaves us with the burdensome question, “ Who am I?”, a question that seems effortless yet so difficult. As I search to find an answer to who I am as an individual I have realized that our way of living has become vaguely part of our lives that it is hard to perceive it as our culture. The things that I love and choose to do make me who I am. The music I listen to, my beliefs, and my ways of living exposes my true self more than my race or nationality.

People are quick to notice how I can get along with nearly everyone, have conversations with strangers, and make almost everyone feel comfortable and at-ease in my company. During my internship at the College of Charleston School of Business, my social skills fostered cooperation and teamwork, which allows to work efficiently, communicate easily, and learn quickly. Among friends, my extroversion fosters conversation and keeps conversation flowing. I take great pride in my people-skills and natural ease in crowds and conversation, understanding that good people-skills are vital for nearly all relationships and careers.

I utilize the traits of extroversion with my friends and family by being an extremely social person. I am very easy for people to get to know. I am not closed-off and detached like introverts. I am a very open-minded person, and am willing to express my feeling, thoughts and desires without hesitation. I am an extremely approachable person, I am the first one at a social gathering to go and introduce myself to others. I am also a huge component of small talking when first meeting someone, it is a way that can help you start to build a relationship with others. In the end I do not have to come best friends with the person, but being able to network myself, and build acquaintances will help me not only in my personal life but in my professional career as well. Finally, as an extrovert I use social setting as a means of energy for myself. I am always up to going to social gathering, and group outings and the more people the better.

According to many psychologists and other social experts, there exist two major social behaviors that are widely adopted globally by a person as they mature into young adulthood: extraversion or introversion. Extroverts are expressive individuals who appear to be energized and enjoy seeking activities that involve socialization with others where as a reserved individual (introvert) prefers solitary pursuits where he or she often partakes in a favorite pastime. In her novel Introvert Power: Why Your Inner Life is Your Hidden Strength, Laurie Helgoe statistically explores the fact that more than one half of the American populace claims to be reticent and encourages those folks to embrace their natural selves (“Book Details” 1). Introverts

Each person is like an onion, consisting of many layers. As each layer is peeled back, more about yourself is revealed. The surface layer is thin and easier to access, providing general characteristics of a person. My surface layer shows a very bubbly, energetic, and talkative character, who finds it easy to engage with others. This makes participating in new clubs or activities much easier by removing common stresses of “fitting in” with the new crowd. After a while of interacting with others, I begin to peel back the layers. As I do so, more of my qualities being to surface. One of the most vital, being my outspoken character. By outspoken, I do not mean uncivil or insulting, but rather open and honest. I am not afraid to have an opinion of my own or tell someone the honest and realistic truth of a situation, even if it is one that does not want to be heard. With that, I create extremely close bonds with those around me.

When I communicate with someone else it is often to describe to them an idea or an emotion that I am feeling. This may be a complex idea like being in love with someone, or a simple idea like wanting to double-bag my groceries. Interacting with others shows me the type of personality I have. This is because if I am able to communicate effectively with others most of the time, I may start considering myself an outgoing, social, people-person. However, in the same way, if I start having awkward interactions where I am unable to adequately express myself I may begin considering myself an awkward antisocial being.