u/SadCommunication6648

I'm in my 20s and have spent most of my life studying toward a career in education. I'm very introverted. I'm quiet, I like being alone, and I don't socialize much.

Recently I heard someone argue that training and skills aren't enough, and that very introverted people just aren't cut out for teaching. It sounded reasonable, and now I feel like I might have chosen the wrong path. I'm also tired of studying and just want a stable job I'd be comfortable with.

Is introversion really a dealbreaker for teaching? Are there introverted teachers who do well? And if you left a field because it didn't fit you, how did you decide?

I'm in my 20s and have spent most of my life studying toward a career in education. I'm very introverted. I'm quiet, I like being alone, and I don't socialize much.

Recently I heard someone argue that training and skills aren't enough, and that very introverted people just aren't cut out for teaching. It sounded reasonable, and now I feel like I might have chosen the wrong path. I'm also tired of studying and just want a stable job I'd be comfortable with.

Is introversion really a dealbreaker for teaching? Are there introverted teachers who do well? And if you left a field because it didn't fit you, how did you decide?

I’m currently in my second year of my MA, and honestly, I feel like I made a huge mistake continuing after my BA.

One of the biggest problems is that we constantly have to do performances/presentations/ debates in front of the entire class, and we’re also expected to work in teams for basically every module. I’m extremely uncomfortable with this kind of environment, and it’s becoming harder and harder for me to deal with.

There are also classmates I don’t get along with because some of them have hurt me in the past. Having to constantly interact with them and work with them is making everything even worse.

I’m also a very introverted person and I usually try to keep a low profile and stay in the background. I don’t like drawing attention to myself or constantly having to interact with people, especially in front of a whole class. I’ve been trying to push myself and adapt to this environment(my whole body starts shaking and my voice as well 😖 and it is very obvious to everyone literally), but honestly, it’s becoming exhausting and I’m starting to wonder if I’m forcing myself into something that just isn’t suitable for me.

I keep thinking, I should have stopped after my BA. Now I’m already in my second year and I feel trapped because I’ve invested so much time into this.

The problem is that quitting would probably create a completely different nightmare with my parents. They absolutely would not understand or accept it, and I know I’d have to deal with a lot of pressure and arguments at home.

But at the same time, I’m seriously asking myself whether continuing is worth it if I’m already this miserable.

Has anyone ever been in a similar situation, especially being close to finishing a degree but seriously wanting to quit? What did you do? Did you push through, or did you leave?

I genuinely don’t know what the right decision is anymore.

There are people who have done bad things to me, and in the moment I think, “That’s it. Things end here. I’m not going to help them anymore, I’m going to keep my distance, and I’m done caring.”

But then my emotions get in the way. I still feel bad inside, I feel sorry for them, and sometimes I end up helping them (without them asking me to) or being nice to them again even though I know I shouldn’t.

And afterwards I think, “Fuck, why did I do that? I knew I didn’t want to. I shouldn’t have done that.”

I don’t want to become cold, cruel, or a bad person. I just want to be able to protect myself and actually stick to my boundaries when someone has repeatedly hurt me.

How do you learn to stop letting emotions override your decisions? How do you become mentally stronger without losing your kindness? How do I shit my heart and my emotions down and only listen to what my mind says? Guys please help I'm suffering because of this... 😭 I should be able to take control of my life