I do my best work and deepest thinking when I am alone. I often want to unwind or relax by having time to myself or with one or two close friends or family members. I need that time to recharge and find the energy to keep going. I am an introvert, but that doesn’t mean I don’t like people or that I can’t do a job as well as an extrovert can.

Common misconceptions about introverted people are that they have a hard time communicating with others or are less successful overall because they are not considered outgoing. The reality is introverts have a different way of socializing, working and thinking, and with introversion comes a lot of genuine, often untapped power.

Susan Cain, author and current leader in understanding introversion, spoke about the extroversion bias in our culture during an interview with “Scientific American.”

“In our society, the ideal self is bold, gregarious and comfortable in the spotlight. We like to think that we value individuality, but mostly we admire the type of individual who’s comfortable ‘putting himself out there,’” Cain said. “Our schools, workplaces and religious institutions are designed for extroverts.”

Cain further explains in this interview and in her TED Talk that having a cultural inclination of valuing extroverts causes many introverts to feel there’s something wrong with them or to feel pressured from an early age to act like pretend-extroverts.

When I was young I preferred to read and draw instead of constantly socializing with others, and therefore I was urged to “break out of my shell.” I never felt uncomfortable speaking with others or sharing my opinions; I just didn’t feel the need to say or do whatever popped into my head. As I have grown up, I’ve pushed myself out of my shell by doing things I felt challenged my introverted personality, like leading groups of people and putting myself in situations where I would need to meet new people and adapt to a new environment. Essentially, I learned if I needed to act extroverted, I could. However, not all introverted people feel comfortable doing this.

All people fall on a scale between introversion and extroversion. My experiences are probably closer to the middle than to the introversion extreme.

It’s important for people to recognize and embrace the characteristics that come with either introversion or extroversion, and not feel excluded or incapable because they are not one or the other. In a previous opinions piece, I discussed what it meant to become a leader in college and how there are different types of leaders. Introverts can be successful as leaders, speakers, managers and friends because there are many powerful qualities they possess.

For example, the more reserved nature of introverts can lead them to be compassionate and good listeners because they take all people’s perspectives into consideration when they make a decision or try to help others.

Introverts think frequently and deeply about themselves, others and problems. This can be a great asset because they know their own strengths and weaknesses and are more analytical and observant about other people and situations. Overall, introverts have a great list of strengths in their repertoire and should feel encouraged to embrace those qualities rather than feel inadequate to their extroverted counterparts.

Claire Noack can be reached at noac8702@stthomas.edu.