The Power of the Introvert

This Ted talk with Susan Cain is very interesting because of my inexperience with introverts.  When I was in elementary school the class layout was exactly as she described it; desks in groups and constant group work with academic subjects that do not warrant working with others.  Now, don't get me wrong this did not bother me because of my extroverted nature but actually in retrospect I could see how that bothered the kids who were not like me.  I think that introverts are encouraged to act like extroverts because it is worrisome to a teacher when a child is always by himself or herself and doesn't seem to have friends as they could be a trouble case or have some other problem mainly because they are young and they "should" be making friends.

In a group of extroverts and introverts there is more equality so to speak.  For example, in my fraternity when we have discussions it benefits us when the extroverts and introverts are suggesting ideas because of the different sides and qualities each bring.  They give us a more complete view to the problem or issue because of their different view points.  It is important for these people to express their ideas to the group so that they can get better representation in the outcome, even though that is the opposite of what is comfortable for an introvert.

So sticking with the same example, if the extroverts were only present in a discussion of lets say programming an event for the fraternity then that event is only going to please the extroverts, but when the introvert is allowed to help in deciding the programming then that event now is pleasurable to all types of people.  That small committee can now go back to the larger chapter and express an idea that has been equally represented by both sides and hopefully everyone is happy.

In relating to Tuckman's developmental stages model, I believe that if any member of a group is suppressed then they cannot accomplish or be classified under the performing stage.  They are formed, brain storming, and norming, but they cant successfully perform because certain members of the group are suppressed or not being heard.  Ultimately this group is doomed to not be successful because of this.

Lastly I think that we should stop labeling people on this criteria not everyone is an extrovert or an introvert but some blend of the two.  And I think Susan expressed this well.

O' Captain my Captain

The movie Dead Poets Society is an incredibly powerful movie for me personally.  In the film there is a scene where Robin Williams character, John Keating, has a powerful message to the young men in his English class, "...And medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for."

This quote is very powerful because as I am studying the "noble pursuits necessary to sustain life" but when I am not doing this I like to embrace the qualities of which we stay alive for.  It was perfectly put that even though there are these subjects that have to be studied it is up to the individual to embrace the important things to make life worth it.

Lastly, this movie showed me what it meant to have guts and have courage.  Courage is having the ability to stand up for what you believe in and demand that others respect what you believe.  I think that the character Neil Perry showed incredible courage to go out and follow the arts and act in a play despite his father making him quit.  Unfortunately it did not work out as he had taken his own life but I  believe this was the films way of showing us how much he cared about what he thought was the pursuits to make him live for like Keating's quote explained.

Because of this movie I have learned to take life a little slower and enjoy myself more.  It is important to keep a balanced life.  I believe that while it is very important to study and do well in school, it is also important to have hobbies that you enjoy and to do things that make you happy, for those things are what makes everything else worth it!