An Introvert’s Guide to Getting Involved in Campus Activities

Why You Should Say ‘Yes’ to New Experiences in College (as told by an Introverted Graduate Student) 

You might be thinking, there’s no way this girl is an introvert—she’s got Graduate Assistant of Student Engagement in her LinkedIn bio! While that is my job, that doesn’t erase my own feelings of introversion. I have spent the last six years navigating the college environment with asocial tendencies and would like to share how participating in campus life improved my college experience. Here are 12 reasons why getting involved in student activities is important for any student and my top six tips for reducing social burnout. 

How do I know if I am Introverted or Extroverted? 

Think of introversion and extroversion as a spectrum of opposing personality traits. Introverts—like myself—commonly need time alone to recharge, prefer to avoid the center of attention, and often seek low-stimulation environments. On the other hand, extroverts—sometimes spelled with an A (extraverts/extraversion/extraverted)—usually feel energized when spending time with people, enjoy being the center of attention in large groups, and frequently seek high-stimulation situations. Depending on the day, you may feel more inclined to one side of the continuum than the other. 

Recently, I participated in a survey conducted by a fellow student. They asked me to take a short test that would rate my social preferences on a scale of 0 (introvert) to 100 (extrovert). Not surprisingly, I ended up scoring a 32! This opportunity was the product of building connections with others in the student body. Wear your introvert badge with pride, but don’t let it keep you from meeting new people! 

How do I get Involved with Campus Life? 

I’m going to be honest; there were many times when college exhausted me outside of my coursework—and I attended a small campus that had a couple hundred students on a busy day. Yet, I would do it all over again in a heartbeat. 

One of the great things about college is that there are a wide variety of experiences at different social levels. You don’t have to attend the huge, lavish events to feel included in your campus community. If you are wary about inserting yourself into a new space, start small. Go to an easy crafting event, board game hour, or movie night—anything that aligns with your personal interests or field of academic study. Chances are, you’ll meet like-minded people and build a support system of new friends.  

The Benefits of Campus Life 

Integrating yourself into campus life can bring you many benefits towards your personal, academic, and career goals. For most, college is the bridge between high school and a professional employment. Use this time to grow in these three areas: 

Personal: 

• Gain a more diverse worldview 

• Enhance your self-confidence by stepping out of your comfort zone 

• Improve your conflict-management skills 

• Learn how to problem solve in creative ways 

Academic: 

• Find or create study accountability groups 

• Strengthen your academic performance and retention by increasing your personal investment to the campus community 

• Join honors societies or other academically focused organizations 

• Build relationships with faculty and get their support in current and future projects 

Career: 

• Make connections with faculty and staff to learn about job opportunities 

• Advance your resume with extracurricular activities 

• Show future employers your ability to be engaged with peers and professionals 

• Get an on-campus job to support yourself financially 

How to Avoid Social Burnout 

At the end of the day, it’s up to you to decide how involved you want to be in your campus’s activities. Listen to your mind and body before, during, and after accomplishing a new experience. These are a few tips I have developed for preventing social fatigue during my time in higher education: 

• Set aside time after a new or large event—pre-planning time alone guarantees you space to recharge your social battery 

• Establish boundaries and enact them—it can be daunting to say yes/no to others, but getting used to advocating for yourself in uncomfortable situations will benefit you in the long run 

• Be honest—I’ve found that when I explain that I need time to myself to recoup, people are very understanding 

• Have pride in yourself for trying something more overstimulating than you’re used to—even if the experience doesn't go as well as you expected, be proud that you took the first step in attending  

• Don’t overthink your interactions—while it is great to learn from your responses to improve your communication skills, dwelling on awkward moments can cause unnecessary stress 

• Be yourself—it can be easy to adapt your personality to fit with the crowd, but that is not a sustainable or authentic way to make long-term connections 

Why is Student Engagement Important to Me? 

If it weren't for past Ellia saying yes to an on-campus marketing internship her professor recommended to her, I would not be the person I am today. Taking that leap of faith is what opened the door to me to becoming the Graduate Assistant of Student Engagement. Since then, I’ve learned how to manage my social battery, made life-long friendships, and attended genuinely fun events that enhanced my college experience. I’m sharing my journey in the hopes that it inspires others students and young professionals to get involved on their campus and reap the same, if not better, benefits. Did any of these tips and tricks resonate with you? Let’s discuss in the comments! 

#Introvert #StudentEngagement #CampusActivites #CollegeExperience #AdviceForStudents 

Keywords: social burnout, young professional, personal development, introversion, student involvement