I am by nature an introvert. I embrace the silence of my mind. When I think, I hear a voice in my head quite different from the one that I hear when I speak. When I write, the voice confidently dictates every word. But when I speak, the voice changes dramatically. Sometimes it is almost reconcilable with the confidence it is meant to communicate. At other times it is impossible to recognize beneath the layers of uncertainty. In order to better understand this behavior, I decided to conduct an experiment to see how my audio changes in different social situations.

I first brainstormed a list of possible factors that may affect how my audio or self expression changes for a given situation. I considered factors that were dependent on the situation, such as the number of people involved and the net extroversion of the group, as well as factors that stemmed from me, such as my interest in the conversations taking place. Samples of the input social situation and the output audio response, both measured subjectively, would be taken at discrete intervals over a period of time. With all this in mind, I began to collect the data.

I first considered the case of a steady input. The number of people involved in the social situation would have to go from zero to some fixed value during the measurement interval. The situation that most closely followed this scenario was the classroom setting. Typically on the first day of a new class, I walk in, find a seat, and remain quiet for some time. After a while I begin to put myself out there. I listen in on the conversations around me, add my input here and there, and talk with the people next to me.

When graphed to the best of my ability, the observed output audio from this situation showed an increase in vocalization that gradually slowed to a steady state as time moved on. I used this response, known as the step response, to produce something of greater interest: the impulse response. The impulse response is a systems characteristic response to an impulse or spike input. What makes the impulse response so useful is the fact that any output can be determined by combining the input with the impulse response in a process called convolution. By convolving my audio function’s impulse response with various input situations, I was able to pick up on some patterns in order to see how I might react to various social situations.

I next examined my audio independent of the time domain. I had already seen how I would react to a given situation, but I wanted to better understand the factors that affected my response. I considered my participation in Destination Imagination and Robotics teams. Although both teams demanded a considerable amount of socializing, I never had trouble voicing myself in team meetings. Similarly, in math and science classes I was always unafraid to raise my hand to contribute, regardless of class size. These experiences seemed to indicate the presence of a factor that positively affects my audio. I found that in situations where I felt I had something to contribute to the discussion or had something important to say I would speak up despite the fear induced by the situation itself.

The experiences I have drawn from my courses, internships, and extracurricular teams seem miniature in comparison to college. However, my activities have prepared me for the challenges I will face. I have learned that passion for one thing can outweigh fear of another, and I have used this to transform my introversion into a powerful tool for self expression. Whether it is a group of five or a class of five hundred I will continue to find a way to make a difference and learn a lot along the way.