in ninth grade I moved to a new school I started classes found my group of
started classes found my group of
started classes found my group of friends and everything was going great
friends and everything was going great
friends and everything was going great then around October came the time of
then around October came the time of
then around October came the time of parent-teacher conferences now I wasn’t
parent-teacher conferences now I wasn’t
parent-teacher conferences now I wasn’t worried as I had been doing pretty well
worried as I had been doing pretty well
worried as I had been doing pretty well in all of my classes so my mom and I we
in all of my classes so my mom and I we
in all of my classes so my mom and I we meet with my first teacher and it’s
meet with my first teacher and it’s
meet with my first teacher and it’s nothing unusual grades assignments
nothing unusual grades assignments
nothing unusual grades assignments homework until he goes one thing I would
homework until he goes one thing I would
homework until he goes one thing I would like for children is to be more loud in
like for children is to be more loud in
like for children is to be more loud in class she is a bit quiet quiet okay well
class she is a bit quiet quiet okay well
class she is a bit quiet quiet okay well I guess I haven’t been participating a
I guess I haven’t been participating a
I guess I haven’t been participating a lot in this class either way I didn’t
lot in this class either way I didn’t
lot in this class either way I didn’t think much of it so we move on to the
think much of it so we move on to the
think much of it so we move on to the next teacher and we continue talking
next teacher and we continue talking
next teacher and we continue talking until she goes Toland is a bit quiet in
until she goes Toland is a bit quiet in
until she goes Toland is a bit quiet in class I wish she spoke up more quiet
class I wish she spoke up more quiet
class I wish she spoke up more quiet there it was again we move on to the
there it was again we move on to the
there it was again we move on to the third teacher the fourth the fifth the
third teacher the fourth the fifth the
third teacher the fourth the fifth the last one of the day and all I kept
last one of the day and all I kept
last one of the day and all I kept hearing was quiet needs to speak up more
hearing was quiet needs to speak up more
hearing was quiet needs to speak up more doesn’t participate enough I think at
doesn’t participate enough I think at
doesn’t participate enough I think at this point it is safe for you to assume
this point it is safe for you to assume
this point it is safe for you to assume that I did not talk much in school I
that I did not talk much in school I
that I did not talk much in school I would maybe ask a question here or there
would maybe ask a question here or there
would maybe ask a question here or there but overall I kept to myself it wasn’t
but overall I kept to myself it wasn’t
but overall I kept to myself it wasn’t on purpose it’s just something that came
on purpose it’s just something that came
on purpose it’s just something that came naturally to me but teachers noticed and
naturally to me but teachers noticed and
naturally to me but teachers noticed and they noticed that it was different it
they noticed that it was different it
they noticed that it was different it was different because the image we have
was different because the image we have
was different because the image we have of a typical high schooler is non-stop
of a typical high schooler is non-stop
of a typical high schooler is non-stop talking we think about high school and
talking we think about high school and
talking we think about high school and see crowded classrooms with the roar of
see crowded classrooms with the roar of
see crowded classrooms with the roar of overlapping voices and laughter I didn’t
overlapping voices and laughter I didn’t
overlapping voices and laughter I didn’t fit the norm and was called out on it
fit the norm and was called out on it
fit the norm and was called out on it eventually I was left wondering is being
eventually I was left wondering is being
eventually I was left wondering is being quiet bad is me not talking for hours
quiet bad is me not talking for hours
quiet bad is me not talking for hours and unacceptable do I have to change the
and unacceptable do I have to change the
and unacceptable do I have to change the way I am in order to stop being called
way I am in order to stop being called
way I am in order to stop being called out by teachers for something that comes
out by teachers for something that comes
out by teachers for something that comes so naturally to me as a confused ninth
so naturally to me as a confused ninth
so naturally to me as a confused ninth grader I took those thoughts away and
grader I took those thoughts away and
grader I took those thoughts away and almost forgot about them until I had to
almost forgot about them until I had to
almost forgot about them until I had to move again to a new school to another
move again to a new school to another
move again to a new school to another parent-teacher conference now this time
parent-teacher conference now this time
parent-teacher conference now this time I didn’t hear the word quiet I heard an
I didn’t hear the word quiet I heard an
I didn’t hear the word quiet I heard an encouraging speak up and not from the
encouraging speak up and not from the
encouraging speak up and not from the teachers but from myself I don’t talk
teachers but from myself I don’t talk
teachers but from myself I don’t talk for hours on end
for hours on end
for hours on end I don’t usually raise my hand in class
I don’t usually raise my hand in class
I don’t usually raise my hand in class and I don’t constantly make jokes in the
and I don’t constantly make jokes in the
and I don’t constantly make jokes in the hallway I am quiet in school I am not
hallway I am quiet in school I am not
hallway I am quiet in school I am not the first to speak I like to keep
the first to speak I like to keep
the first to speak I like to keep thoughts to myself I’m an introvert an
thoughts to myself I’m an introvert an
thoughts to myself I’m an introvert an introvert on a TEDx stage nonetheless
introvert on a TEDx stage nonetheless
introvert on a TEDx stage nonetheless and today I am speaking up for all the
and today I am speaking up for all the
and today I am speaking up for all the quiet boys and girls who have been
quiet boys and girls who have been
quiet boys and girls who have been labeled into shyness labeled as
labeled into shyness labeled as
labeled into shyness labeled as inadequate labeled into being too quiet
inadequate labeled into being too quiet
inadequate labeled into being too quiet I am speaking up for all the students in
I am speaking up for all the students in
I am speaking up for all the students in a classroom who have been overlooked by
a classroom who have been overlooked by
a classroom who have been overlooked by teachers simply because they did not
teachers simply because they did not
teachers simply because they did not talk as much in class and finally I am
talk as much in class and finally I am
talk as much in class and finally I am speaking up for everyone who have heard
speaking up for everyone who have heard
speaking up for everyone who have heard the word quiet address to them one too
the word quiet address to them one too
the word quiet address to them one too many times people like this people like
many times people like this people like
many times people like this people like me introverts we’re often regarded to as
me introverts we’re often regarded to as
me introverts we’re often regarded to as the shy ones the calm ones the quiet
the shy ones the calm ones the quiet
the shy ones the calm ones the quiet ones Susan Cain the author of the book
ones Susan Cain the author of the book
ones Susan Cain the author of the book quiet the power of introverts in a world
quiet the power of introverts in a world
quiet the power of introverts in a world that can’t stop talking states in her
that can’t stop talking states in her
that can’t stop talking states in her official TED talk that introverts make
official TED talk that introverts make
official TED talk that introverts make up a third to a half of the world’s
up a third to a half of the world’s
up a third to a half of the world’s population that’s the same amount of
population that’s the same amount of
population that’s the same amount of people as the populations of China India
people as the populations of China India
people as the populations of China India and the United States combined and
and the United States combined and
and the United States combined and despite our lar
despite our lar
despite our lar presents introverts are not being
presents introverts are not being
presents introverts are not being acknowledged enough teenagers as a whole
acknowledged enough teenagers as a whole
acknowledged enough teenagers as a whole have been boxed into this one category
have been boxed into this one category
have been boxed into this one category of loud for way too long and despite
of loud for way too long and despite
of loud for way too long and despite changing technologies and teaching
changing technologies and teaching
changing technologies and teaching methods some students were left behind
methods some students were left behind
methods some students were left behind by overlooking the fact that introverts
by overlooking the fact that introverts
by overlooking the fact that introverts exist
exist
exist schools suppress such individuals
schools suppress such individuals
schools suppress such individuals causing them to feel even more isolated
causing them to feel even more isolated
causing them to feel even more isolated schools should be encouraging introverts
schools should be encouraging introverts
schools should be encouraging introverts to embrace who they are while also
to embrace who they are while also
to embrace who they are while also helping them navigate such a talkative
helping them navigate such a talkative
helping them navigate such a talkative world modern companies are already
world modern companies are already
world modern companies are already realizing the potential introverts have
realizing the potential introverts have
realizing the potential introverts have and the power they bring to the
and the power they bring to the
and the power they bring to the workspace they are changing the way they
workspace they are changing the way they
workspace they are changing the way they are structured in order to become more
are structured in order to become more
are structured in order to become more welcoming to their introverted employees
welcoming to their introverted employees
welcoming to their introverted employees major corporations such as Google have
major corporations such as Google have
major corporations such as Google have already put less significance into job
already put less significance into job
already put less significance into job interviews when recruiting new employees
interviews when recruiting new employees
interviews when recruiting new employees while Amazon now begins each meeting in
while Amazon now begins each meeting in
while Amazon now begins each meeting in silence with attendees reading a memo on
silence with attendees reading a memo on
silence with attendees reading a memo on the topics needing to be discussed
the topics needing to be discussed
the topics needing to be discussed however schools are still hesitant to
however schools are still hesitant to
however schools are still hesitant to make concrete changes towards introverts
make concrete changes towards introverts
make concrete changes towards introverts they have for years been focusing on
they have for years been focusing on
they have for years been focusing on catering to the different learning types
catering to the different learning types
catering to the different learning types whether it be visual auditory verbal or
whether it be visual auditory verbal or
whether it be visual auditory verbal or physical teachers have been taught to
physical teachers have been taught to
physical teachers have been taught to diversify their lesson plans in order to
diversify their lesson plans in order to
diversify their lesson plans in order to cater to the different types of learners
cater to the different types of learners
cater to the different types of learners yet the existence of extroverts and
yet the existence of extroverts and
yet the existence of extroverts and introverts is known but somehow rarely
introverts is known but somehow rarely
introverts is known but somehow rarely addressed my typical school day would
addressed my typical school day would
addressed my typical school day would probably include a lecture a video a
probably include a lecture a video a
probably include a lecture a video a hands-on activity a few worksheets and a
hands-on activity a few worksheets and a
hands-on activity a few worksheets and a lot of discussion teachers balance out
lot of discussion teachers balance out
lot of discussion teachers balance out the amount of time we are listening or
the amount of time we are listening or
the amount of time we are listening or watching they create a healthy balance
watching they create a healthy balance
watching they create a healthy balance of activities there is so much variety
of activities there is so much variety
of activities there is so much variety in the way we comprehend and get
in the way we comprehend and get
in the way we comprehend and get information yet there is only one set
information yet there is only one set
information yet there is only one set way I have ever been told to process it
way I have ever been told to process it
way I have ever been told to process it and it has always been through
and it has always been through
and it has always been through discussion or talking to a partner in
discussion or talking to a partner in
discussion or talking to a partner in fact I could probably easily count the
fact I could probably easily count the
fact I could probably easily count the number of times in my three-and-a-half
number of times in my three-and-a-half
number of times in my three-and-a-half years of high school where I had the
years of high school where I had the
years of high school where I had the time to reflect
time to reflect
time to reflect on a certain topic in class quietly and
on a certain topic in class quietly and
on a certain topic in class quietly and by myself I want to see a balance in the
by myself I want to see a balance in the
by myself I want to see a balance in the way I can learn in a classroom a balance
way I can learn in a classroom a balance
way I can learn in a classroom a balance where I don’t have to force words out of
where I don’t have to force words out of
where I don’t have to force words out of my mouth a classroom where I can learn
my mouth a classroom where I can learn
my mouth a classroom where I can learn new things and not feel incredibly
new things and not feel incredibly
new things and not feel incredibly drained because people might think I’m
drained because people might think I’m
drained because people might think I’m quiet but when I’m not talking I’m
quiet but when I’m not talking I’m
quiet but when I’m not talking I’m looking looking at the colorful posters
looking looking at the colorful posters
looking looking at the colorful posters advertising clubs and activities in
advertising clubs and activities in
advertising clubs and activities in school we’re looking at the hand of the
school we’re looking at the hand of the
school we’re looking at the hand of the clock slowly moving people might think
clock slowly moving people might think
clock slowly moving people might think I’m shy but when I’m not talking I am
I’m shy but when I’m not talking I am
I’m shy but when I’m not talking I am feeling feeling my own heartbeat beating
feeling feeling my own heartbeat beating
feeling feeling my own heartbeat beating in my chest or feeling the breeze of
in my chest or feeling the breeze of
in my chest or feeling the breeze of someone so much taller than me walk
someone so much taller than me walk
someone so much taller than me walk swiftly into the opposite direction
extraversion and introversion occur on a
extraversion and introversion occur on a spectrum so it is hard to completely
spectrum so it is hard to completely
spectrum so it is hard to completely define one type of person versus another
define one type of person versus another
define one type of person versus another there are no hard cut lines to a
there are no hard cut lines to a
there are no hard cut lines to a person’s personality but one personality
person’s personality but one personality
person’s personality but one personality trait cannot be valued over the other
trait cannot be valued over the other
trait cannot be valued over the other introverts deserve to be recognised as
introverts deserve to be recognised as
introverts deserve to be recognised as the essential members of classrooms
the essential members of classrooms
the essential members of classrooms schools and communities we may not
schools and communities we may not
schools and communities we may not boldly stand out but we are important
boldly stand out but we are important
boldly stand out but we are important and deserve to be heard being quiet is
and deserve to be heard being quiet is
and deserve to be heard being quiet is not a disadvantage
not a disadvantage
not a disadvantage it is a trait that makes one significant
it is a trait that makes one significant
it is a trait that makes one significant and important it is a trait worth
and important it is a trait worth
and important it is a trait worth cherishing and praising and not tearing
cherishing and praising and not tearing
cherishing and praising and not tearing down a parent-teacher conferences I hope
down a parent-teacher conferences I hope
down a parent-teacher conferences I hope that one day introverts will be
that one day introverts will be
that one day introverts will be recognized as the valuable community
recognized as the valuable community
recognized as the valuable community members that they are schools will
members that they are schools will
members that they are schools will support them and their way of
support them and their way of
support them and their way of understanding the world their opinions
understanding the world their opinions
understanding the world their opinions will be valued and respected until that
will be valued and respected until that
will be valued and respected until that point in time introverts like myself
point in time introverts like myself
point in time introverts like myself will struggle to speak up and make our
will struggle to speak up and make our
will struggle to speak up and make our voices heard but we will overcome what
voices heard but we will overcome what
voices heard but we will overcome what most people regard as a disadvantage in
most people regard as a disadvantage in
most people regard as a disadvantage in order to allow those who follow us a
order to allow those who follow us a
order to allow those who follow us a chance to make themselves heard in this
chance to make themselves heard in this
chance to make themselves heard in this loud world
loud world
loud world and now let’s take another look I spoke
and now let’s take another look I spoke
and now let’s take another look I spoke up but did you listen thank you
up but did you listen thank you
up but did you listen thank you [Applause]
”
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