I think it’s pretty obvious based off the title of the blog, but if you haven’t noticed the title or if you don’t know me personally, I am an unapologetic introvert. But I haven’t always known that I was an introvert, and the process in which I came to find out that I was one was truly something that changed my perspective on a lot of things in my life.

Ever since I can remember, I have always been very quiet, shy and laid back. I think I can speak for a lot of introverts when I say that there is a certain level of discomfort that we all experience going through life. And this discomfort was something that I had to deal with until I actually figured out that I was an introvert. Everyone has a point in their life, or they should, where they come to a realization about themselves, and for me, this realization came in college.

When I was a freshman at Hampton University, I wanted to take advantage of the fact that I was no longer at an all-boys school (yes I attended an all-boys high school, DeMatha Catholic, go Stags!). Not only was I now surrounded by females, but these females were GORGEOUS, BEAUTIFUL and several other adjectives that I cannot, or will not, use in this particular blog. So when the weekend hit, I chose to party.

Now I’ve never really been a partier, but I wanted to do it because the opportunity was there. After all, I was in college surrounded by mainly females (if you’re a guy, you’ve got to love that Hampton female to male ratio), so why not take advantage of it?

Sophomore year, I slowed down on the partying. Why? I realized it just wasn’t my scene. I preferred hanging out with friends around campus, going out to eat and to the movies, and just calm, relaxed environments instead of drunken, potentially explosive ones.

Junior year is when I had THE revelation of my very young life thus far. One of my best friends sent me a link to an article that was about the telltale signs that you are an introvert. There were 23 total signs, and I can honestly say that at least 20 of those signs fit me to a tee then, and still do to this day.

So there it was. I did a little more research, and the diagnosis was in: I was, and probably forever will be, an introvert.

For the rest of my junior year, and ultimately my time at Hampton, I began to embrace who I really was. And I can honestly say, I have never been happier at any point in my life.

Now, nearly two years removed from my revelation that I am indeed an introvert, I am still very happy, mainly because I accept what I am, and who I am. In retrospect, I know that I’ve been this way for a long time, but to finally be able to attach a title to exactly what it is I was, was probably one of the best things that has happened to me in my life. I no longer feel weird about wanting to stay in the house on a Friday or Saturday night and play video games or watch old DVD’s instead of going out to a party or club. Partying, clubbing and being around a lot of people just isn’t me.

So I say all of this to say: be comfortable with yourself. Whether you’re an introvert, an extrovert, or a mix, just be you. And surround yourself with people who accept you for who you really are. Trust me. If you haven’t already done it, when you do, you’ll find that life is so much easier, and you will be a lot happier. And happiness within yourself is key to happiness in life.