Quiet

Journal # 8

The world can be divided into two types of people: those who give voice to every thought and those who are naturally quiet. People tend to accept the former as normal and be concerned about the latter, often thinking quietness is a temporary condition that should be corrected. Falling into the latter category myself, I am easily able to blend into the background and observe the phenomenon in action. Far from being a problem, however, quiet individuals are often more capable of expressing meaning than those who are talkative. By not offering every thought and opinion, their words, when they do speak, have greater influence in the classroom and in society. People who are quiet by nature can communicate more effectively than others. One of the disadvantages to being a reserved person is that they are more likely to be perceived as unapproachable. When meeting a new group of people, on the first day of school, for instance, people are more likely to introduce themselves to a group that is already talking, rather than the person sitting alone or with just one other person. However, this situation can have positive consequences as well. A quiet person has the opportunity to observe people, and then decide which seem as if they would be good friends. Sometimes it is better to take the time to get to know a few people well rather than have many casual acquaintances. This may result in a smaller quantity of friends, but it is also more likely that each one will be a quality friend. It may seem paradoxical that quiet people would be skillful at communication. However, they play an important role, as there can be no conversation without an attentive listener. When they do add to the conversation, their input is concise without sacrificing meaning. Although the people are quiet, their words ring louder than most. If the world can be divided into two types of people, then the quiet side of the equation is the more powerful.