WP4: My WRIT340 Writing Journey
My writing journey this semester was incredibly rewarding. I was able to dedicate the entire semester to learning about my introverted identity and the ways in which it impacts various aspects of my life. I learned new things about introverts and gained clarity around topics for which I previously had a limited amount of knowledge. Specifically, I explored introverted people’s mindsets, relationship building, and mental health. I wanted to learn about these factors because, over the past couple of years especially, being an introvert has become an increasingly more prevalent aspect of my identity. I have been noticing certain things about my mental wellbeing, the way I view and form friendships, and my ever-growing desire to access calming and solitary spaces. I recognized these behaviors and was curious about how closely they correlate with me being an introvert.
My primary way of exploring this topic was by conducting an ample amount of research. My sources range from scientifically-backed articles to TikTok videos, and I found that each source offered a unique perspective. The personal anecdotes from introverts on TikTok were just as significant and valuable, if not more, than the nonfiction books written by esteemed authors. My second writing project was when I conducted the most research. I had never written an annotated bibliography before this class, but after I figured out how to do it, I really enjoyed the process. It was a great way for me to organize my sources and ideas for the next writing project, and I will definitely use it as a method of preparation when writing in the future.
Upon starting my writing journey this semester, I was looking for answers, but I wasn’t sure where those answers would lead me or how I would feel once I discovered them. This was a little bit daunting, especially when it came to the mental health research for WP2 and WP3, but ultimately I was comforted by what I learned. With each new bit of knowledge I gained, whether it revealed something favorable or unfavorable about being an introvert, I automatically became better equipped to access my most fulfilling lifestyle. By this I mean that, with each source I engaged with, I gained more understanding of what it means to be an introvert and how that translates into the external world. Whether I discovered something good or bad about introverted tendencies, I felt justified in my experiences and became more qualified to make informed choices about how to manage my innate way of existing.
Moreover, I had an epiphany this semester. I learned a number of new things, but there was one phrase that especially stood out to me: selectively social. For the longest time, I was labeled as “antisocial” by people who apparently didn’t understand me or my personality type. Even so, I thought they were right. I accepted the label, and I internalized it. However, after conducting extensive research this semester, I learned that I am actually selectively social, as most introverts are. Antisocial is a personality disorder that rejects and detests the company of others. Contrastingly, being selectively social means that a person is intentional about the relationships they choose to develop, not that they are incapable or disturbed by building connections. This phrase immediately resonated with me because I realized that I do enjoy meeting new people, and I do enjoy making new friends, but only when these relationships add value and meaning to my life. Relationships such as these are few and far between, which is one of the reasons why most introverts also have small social circles.
Additionally, I have never used Medium outside of my USC WRIT classes. In a way, it feels like the stakes are higher and it makes me want to be a better writer. I say this because, when I was writing this series of essays on introverted personality traits, I knew that there was a possibility that other introverts could read my work. I am hoping that, if they do, they can find comfort in the discoveries that I made because I made them for all of us, not just for me. I am also hoping that they’ll realize — if they haven’t already — that, while their experiences are unique, they are not strange. Rather, they are common and justified, and in cases like our susceptibility to a diminished mental wellbeing, knowledge is power. Knowing what is happening and why it’s happening allows us to be in control. It allows us to take precautionary measures to ensure that if we feel like we’re heading towards a dark place, then we can pull ourselves out of it before it’s too late.
I was fortunate enough to take this writing class with a professor who I’ve had before, and I’m very grateful for that. Throughout this semester, he gave his students the freedom to write about a topic that we were interested in and/or personally invested in. This made the entire process increasingly more rewarding and fulfilling. It gave the projects a sense of purpose that I believe would’ve been absent had we been given a specific topic to write about. Moreover, having autonomy over my writing makes it enjoyable for me. I really appreciate this because I genuinely believe that if I was forced to write about a topic that I had zero interest in, it would take the fun out of writing and would make me resent the process. I hope that I never come to resent writing because I’ve loved it since I was a young girl and expect to continue loving it. Writing plays a huge part in my life and professors like Dissinger help nurture and refine the passion.
