How Extroverts Fare in a Bubble
The SJHS community looks very different this year compared to years prior–and I’m not just talking about the masks. Desks are spread out, hallway traffic moves in one direction, and people are really making an effort to avoid contact with others. For some, this reduces any pressure to socialize and is a good thing. But for others—namely, extroverts—this has caused their connection to friends, strangers, and the school to change and it’s been tough to navigate.
Photo by Kiersten Olson
A typical extrovert enjoys conversation and socialization. He or she may find hanging out with friends or meeting new people a lot more energizing than spending time alone. While extroverts don’t necessarily have more close friends, they often can start conversations with others easily which leads to socializing with more people—even if they limit that socialization to just school or through a sport.
Due to the pandemic, it’s essential that people limit the number of others they come into contact with, limiting extroverts to only conversate with their closest friends. This change may have brought people closer to their best friends, but it’s pushed away anyone they would’ve previously called a “school friend.”
Will Dodson, 11 considers himself an extrovert. He shares that he used to be very social in school, but since he returned to SJHS in January, his socialization has looked different.
“Since I got back here, I've really only talked to my close friends. I don't socialize with anyone else,” he said. “Last year I was a very outgoing person. Even with the teacher, I never shut up. Now I feel like I have to be restrained because people are farther away so I can't interact with the class like I used to.”
Another interaction that has changed for extroverts is their connections with strangers. For some, walking up to a random person and starting a conversation is a hobby. It’s difficult to approach people now. It’s also difficult for students to get to know their classmates in our environment.
As a school, it’s easy to tell we’ve grown apart. We used to be encouraged to “get involved” and meet new people through clubs and sports. But, now that’s become a safety hazard. Student Senate, the group designated to organize school spirit events, is limited on what they can offer. This, along with our lack of actual time in class, has disconnected students from the school.
For extroverts, a sense of community is important. But, with fewer connections between students and less school pride, SJHS hasn’t felt as much like a community this year.
Covid has taken a toll on the socialization of everybody, but for extroverts, it’s probably been an extra struggle. But, there may be some ways to improve this. If someone is feeling limited by their bubble, they could consider reaching out to people through social media.