How Learning I Was An Introvert Helped Me Figure Out What To Do With My Life

Introverts are normally bullied. They're looked at as a weirdo lacking a social life.

But is being an introvert actually OK? Do introverts get ahead in life before extroverts? I suppose it all depends on the personality. For me, finding my true inner introvert helped me figure out what paths to take in my life.

In middle school, I was definitely introverted. Because of that, I basically had a red target on my back all day, every day.

Once high school came around, the mean, popular kids wanted to be my friend. I'm assuming it was because I found out what a straightener was and no longer looked like Marla Hooch from "A League of Their Own."

Becoming friends with these people pushed me to become an extrovert. At the time, it was great. I had a bunch of friends, I partied every weekend and almost every night during the summer and got my sneak-out routine down perfectly. (Mom, you're probably reading this now. Sorry.)

Needless to say, I had a great time. One night I even woke up with two of my friends on a random trampoline. But looking back now, I almost wish I remained an introvert.

I'm assuming my grades would have been better, I wouldn't have been as tired all the time, I wouldn't have spent my nights running from the police and I wouldn't have had to make up excuses for everything I've done or almost got in trouble for.

After high school, I moved to a secluded farm town with my dad and his girlfriend without a car. Each day I searched for a job so I could make enough money to get a car.

My real, introverted self came back out. I spent my days alone either watching "Grey's Anatomy," reading or writing. Because I had so much alone time, I realized I actually did want to go to college and one day work for a big time magazine, maybe even write a book.

Instead of thinking about what I was going to wear next weekend for an insane, blowout party, I started a journal and researched different schools I wanted to go to.

About a year and a half later, we moved to a more city-like area and I started going to community college. Because I remained an introvert, I left that school two years later with a 4.0 GPA and began my move to the Poconos, PA to finish getting my degree at a university.

Moving in with my grandparents couldn't have made life more introverted for me. Don't get me wrong, they were great roommates; my grandfather did my laundry, my grandma made dinner, but you can assume they weren't slinging back shots while watching "The Price is Right."

College was fun. Usually, college is filled with parties and wild nights, but for me, I attended my classes and then went home to do homework, study and hang.

I pretty much got all of my partying days out in high school. Don't get me wrong, I had some parties at my house sometimes, but they were not even close to the ones I went to “back in the day.” At least I woke up in my bed every time.

If you're an introvert, it's OK. I can't change the past, and that's fine.

I will say that I owe myself credit for realizing that being an introvert is totally fine because I graduated college and I now have a great internship.

I'm finally on the right road, and I that's because I changed back to my real self instead of pretending I was someone else.