Some students are what one might call, “The life of the party.” They’re the ones who can easily talk and converse in large crowd situations and can be loud and social able to be around.

But there are others that are the wallflowers, the people that are more quiet and reserved around people and can only hold a certain amount of socialization before they need to get away to be by themselves.

These two types of people are called introverts and extroverts. Extroverts by definition are outgoing, overtly expressive people. They’re sociable and unreserved people. Introverts are shy, reticent people, in other words, they don’t share their thoughts and opinions readily.

While those may be fairly extreme definitions of the two, some people may lie in between, or may be a moderate amount of one of them. Some people don’t know what introverts and extroverts are.

“I don’t know exactly what an introvert or extrovert is,” junior Caleb Pfeifer said.

But for those that do, people may believe they are one or the other for numerous reasons.

“Introverts are more shy and reserved, and extroverts are more outgoing and sociable,” sophomore Ana Goodlett said. “I think I am much more of an extrovert than anything else. I love talking to others and being in group environments.”

Sophomore Cassandra Quinby also agrees, “I’m an extrovert.”

But on the other hand, sophomore Sierra Eichman believes that she’s more of an introvert.

“I would rather keep to myself and be introspective,” Eichman said. “I don’t like to draw attention to myself or be the center of attention. I choose who I want to connect with very carefully and I don’t like being the one who starts a conversation.

“I’m a quiet person, however, you can tell the people I’m comfortable around. I have to try really hard to be outgoing and meet new people because things like that don’t come naturally to me.”

Senior Rylie Rowland also believes she’s an introvert.

“I am an introvert because I’m usually pretty quiet unless I am around close friends,” Rowland said.

No matter the personality type, each person contributes their own ideas and thoughts to the world, and having the variety of reserved and outgoing people helps form unique relationships among friends, colleagues, and students.

“Even though introverts appear quieter, they tend to have close knit friends and be more sociable around people they know better,” Goodlett said.

15rarthur@usd489.com