I never had a problem with voicing my opinions and being afraid to disagree with others. I consider myself to be both an introvert and an extrovert. Something that some people may have a hard time believing (I admit, I tend to be a little crazy around friends) that I was a really shy person growing up. Sometimes, I continue to remain quiet in certain situations when I either 1) can’t relate to something or 2) I don’t know what people are talking about. But, just because I don’t know much about the topic of discussion, that doesn’t mean that I don’t enjoy listening to it. I may even find it fascinating. AND THAT BY NO MEANS MEAN THAT I’M STUPID OR LESS “WORLDLY.” I appreciate all subjects. Hey, you’re talking to a college kid who switched her major multiple times, has been to two different countries, and excelled in all subjects in high school — wasn’t easy, but I did it.

Sometimes I feel as though people see me as just “that white girl” who likes to have fun, drinks Starbucks, and writes and edits for an online journal that, in other peoples’ words say, “no one cares about.” WHICH IS NOT TRUE. I try not to take myself so seriously, which makes it harder for other people to do the same. All they see is that, and it honestly makes me feel like a jerk. Little do they understand is I have a wide variety of interests, and instead of talking about them, I act upon them.

Think about it this way, if there are two talkers in one room, who is going to be there to actually listen? In fact, it has been proven that those who listen in conversation are smarter.

I am in no way saying that talking is a bad thing. Communication has to be one of the most important things in life. People have their own way of communicating. For example, I used to tell stories about my personal experiences through my artwork. Now, you can hear my voice through my writing. By listening, I gain ideas, I learn more, and it gives me inspiration on what to write about. Thanks to writing, I am able to recognize the importance of communication and gain a better understanding of myself as a person. Not only am I learning new things, but I can solve problems and I’m even building a career around it. In a similar way, my audience can learn things about me. Writing is more than just a “creative outlet,” again, it is a form of communication.

We all share a fundamental drive to communicate. Communication can be defined as the process of understanding and sharing meaning. You share meaning in what you say and how you say it, both in oral and written forms. If you could not communicate, what would life be like? A series of never-ending frustrations? Not being able to ask for what you need or even to understand the needs of others?

Being unable to communicate might even mean losing a part of yourself, for you communicate your self-concept—your sense of self and awareness of who you are—in many ways.