First published at Hijacked on 16 February 2015.
It seems the razzle dazzle of O-Week mostly caters to students who thrive on mingling with others. For those who prefer to be alone (but not lonely), networking by being a chatterbox is like turning air into gold. But introversion doesn’t mean exclusion. As author Susan Cain argues, “Introverts and extroverts really operate ideally in different levels of stimulation.” If you’re not the most outgoing of students, here are a few ways you can still form some much-needed networks.
Learn to write better by critiquing others’ work
If you’ve been loitering around campus for a year or two, you should have the science of academic writing down pat. It’s time to be a master by offering your editing services to others who may struggle with academic language. Advertise yourself by spamming the campus job boards and joining uni groups on social media. Make sure it’s text-based social media only, since writing is a platform that most introverts best thrive on.
For first-year students, potential clients may doubt your skills and credibility, so enrol in free academic writing courses, which are usually offered by libraries or the university’s academic-support team. By critiquing others’ work, you may also learn how to improve your own academic writing.
Read the full article at Hijacked.
