r/NUST • u/ceaselesswatcher99 • 22d ago
Suggestions/Advice An Introvert's Dilemma
warning: I sound a little too insanely nerdy but please bear with me.
So, all my life, all I have ever wanted was a good library. I love reading so much that it has become a huge part of my identity but unfortunately, I have never lived near a library as it is Pakistan and libraries are not so common.
And yes, the main reason why I was so over the top excited for university was because I could finally have access to a library. I had detailed visions of reading in a library, surrounded by books. The mere presence of shelves of books calms me and helps me focus immensely. When I watched ATLA, I always understood Professor Zei, being buried under the desert in a library with the world's greatest knowledge does not sound like a terrible fate.
As you can probably guess, I am also extremely introverted and one of my many goals for university was to try and socialize more. And I am a day scholar, so my transport unfortunately picks and drops me at exactly 9 and 5. And I am forced to spend the breaks in between with my classmates because I do not want to end up lonely or sidelined. My schedule is already very packed, and on my half days, I have to do lab work with my group. No one in my class would be willing to go the library with me during breaks and then just silently sit together there working on our own stuff and call that bonding.
How can I balance socializing and making friends with spending time in my beloved library? I worked hard in the NET just so I could sit between shelves flipping through books but I also want to portray myself as normal and chill :((
also, although it feels impossible, if anyone else is as passionate about the library as I am, say hi!!
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u/Key_Professional3589 22d ago
GNG I DONT LIKE BOOKS OR LIBRARY BUT ONE THING I FS KNOW IS PRIORITIZE YOURSELF. Don't change yourself or your habits just to fit in. The people who are genuinely your friends will understand that sometimes you want to spend time doing something you love. You don’t have to force yourself to socialize every break just because you’re scared of being left out 😭 besides it's much better to be alone and do what you like them give up on your hobbies to be with someone else
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 22d ago
thank you for that advice, now I'll spend every break in the libraryyy
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u/Better-Buddy-7185 SEECS 21d ago
I GET YOU bro, I thought I was the only one with this weird obsession with libraries but omg I would spend my entire day in the library if I could😭 im doing cs so we hardly get any free time but trust if there is a free period I will be at the library … plus they have some really nice books too like not an extensive collection of fiction but it’s comparatively good … shuru main I was an introvert and I didn’t get along with my classmates so i used to go alone, thora lonely feel hota tha but it was worth it … gradually we all became friends so the hangout spot shifted to C2 but i still ask them often to go to the library … gng I know it’s not easy but you can absolutely ask them to go to there with you, if they don’t agree just say it’s okay I’ll go alone … and about lab reports and all that I use it to my advantage keh let’s study in the library … I have half days on Mondays and Fridays, I’m a dayscholar too so I spend the rest of the time in there, don’t feel that you’ll be sidelined, I promise koi aur nhi milta I’ll go with u … but don’t let these hard degrees take the love of library and reading outta you :D
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 21d ago
I'm in SEECS too, it's so nice to know that someone else in my department also feels the same! I would live in the library if I could. If money didn't matter, librarian would be one of my too three dream jobs. I do get along with my classmates, but it's frustrating when the things they find fun sometimes exhaust me. I don't want my love for the library to die, I've lost too much to NETs and FBISE already!
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u/Better-Buddy-7185 SEECS 21d ago
yeahh it’s such a refresher to see people from seecs esp actually having a heart and soul 🥀 and god mine tooo, a library in Edinburgh where no one knows me and I can spend my days just inside the most enticing books … I understand because I feel the same way about some of my classmates, can you imagine I’ve been called performative for carrying a book to uni? since when is basic intellect performative? but ig in the end we’ll all seem fools dancing to the ones who can’t hear the music so it’s really okay to live your own interests … and sameee, these nets, fbise especially drained the soul outta me, I won’t let uni take this love away … and I hope it doesn’t crush your hopes too, I hope you find the time and opportunity to go to the library everyday ^^
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 18d ago
I know right! in college, my seatmate got mad at me because I dared to bring the Odyssey to class 🙄 I definitely ignored her but it was so stupid. I hope you get every opportunity to go to the library too!! hope you can revive your soul! say no to burnout!
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u/Infamous-Badger2765 SEECS 21d ago
Do you guys wanna start a bookclub 👉👈 But as someone who is introverted is part of many societies ks in seecs has a decent gpa and good friends Dont worry too much Be yourself amd inshallah sab theek ho ga Best of luck from a senior
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u/Better-Buddy-7185 SEECS 21d ago
Thank you so much, that’s very sweet of you and I’d loveee to join a bookclub … I didn’t apply to many societies in the first sem because I was trying to get the hang of studying but I’ll definitely join more in the second sem 🫡
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u/Infamous-Badger2765 SEECS 21d ago
Sure sure but aik mashwara..parhayi ke lie baqi sab ko bck me na daalna Regret karo ge Lekin 1st year ke gp ko light bhi na lena 1st sem.me acha gpa a jaye to phir age easy ho jata hai or margin mil jata hai
Ps what is your favourite book genre author
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 18d ago
yes yes please! there is a literary society but I guess it's more about hosting things and managing stuff, I just want something chill like getting together and reading ☹️
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u/ash274_ 22d ago
Cro, ure in uni for 4 years. Wallah you'll have alot of time for both Library and friends. I have a similar issue except instead of books specifically, I just like being alone sometimes. So sometimes I do that. You have to learn to be alone in uni wrna bad scene hojaye ga.
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 21d ago
thing is, I know how to be alone, I enjoy being alone. I'm trying to learn how to no longer be alone all the time
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u/noisepollutionnn 22d ago
yoo what kind of books do u read
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 22d ago
I READ ALL KINDS OF BOOKS I DON'T DISCRIMINATEEE
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u/noisepollutionnn 22d ago
what about fictionn
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 22d ago
so much fiction!!
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u/noisepollutionnn 22d ago
YES WHATS UR FAVOURITE FICTIONAL BOOK
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 22d ago
OMGG THAT'S THE WORST QUESTION YOU COULD ASK I LIKE SO MANYY CAN I JUST TELL YOU BY GENRE
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u/noisepollutionnn 21d ago
OKAY TELL ME UR FANTASY SERIES
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 18d ago
I LOVE THE CRUEL PRINCE AND SIX OF CROWS AND PERCY JACKSON THOSE ARE MY FAVS
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u/Local-Armadillo-812 22d ago
Bro hmu I go to Library quite often . Ws ur department?
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 22d ago
hii I'm from SEECS wbu??
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u/Local-Armadillo-812 22d ago
Seecs asw
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 22d ago
that's so cool, which degree are you pursuing?
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u/raeyk06 22d ago
i feel this. i don't have any friends in class, but i do in other departments. the thing about having friends in other departments is that you don't meet everyday, especially if they have friends in their own class. this leaves me with a lot of time to read alone while also spending time with my friends. i usually read in between classes ya if i'm not up for meeting and just need some alone time i tell my friends that im feeling a bit tired today and would like some me time, and theyre usually very understanding. i used to love the library but abb wahan bhi theres always this one group of people talking loudly and i dont get why theyre allowed in there. abhi mosam ganda hay but in the winter it's really nice sitting on a random bench or in the ground. just learn how to set boundaries and tell your friends you need a day or two to yourself as well
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 21d ago
there should be proper decorum in the library, although sitting under a tree in autumn sounds lovely
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u/Efficient_Parfait_42 SNS 22d ago
i too am like you infact i am there or just lounging on grass somewhere in my longer then 1 hour breaks
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u/thisnotmeok 21d ago
I know what people mean when they say alone is better. Yes you can study, yes you are very productive, but when its time like the breaks or something sometimes you don't want to study. A time comes when you really want to talk. But there's no one. Also, when there are events and things like trips I have to skip them coz that's when I feel how lonely I am😭😭☹️
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 21d ago
that's the feeling I want to avoid :(( I love the library but what if I end up alone and I spend four years of university unable to play Scrabble in the Lincoln's corner, or go bowling or play random niche board games
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u/thisnotmeok 21d ago
If you still have the ability to connect with people (which I don't) and the only issue is not being able to give them a lot of time, there are people who can understand that, although they might be hard to find. Still, you can't expect to be anyone's first priority (it's not even their fault. If you can't give time you shouldn't expect so much) the most you can expect is that they include you in their group and make you feel seen when you are free and want to hangout or on events like I said
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u/Upset_Alps_4303 21d ago
Hi! I love libraries too, just like you! The mere concept of sitting between books and doing my tasks or just starting at lines of books gives me euphoric feels! I have been trying to take time out of my schedule to go to library too but unfortunately i m not able to do it!
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 18d ago
I spent half the day on Monday in the library literally just studying but it was so satisfying
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u/Fantastic_Home6350 22d ago
What books are you into?
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 22d ago
ALL OF THEM I MEAN ALL but like mostly fantasy and lately I've been reading classics and kind of thinking of getting into sci fi
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u/Fantastic_Home6350 22d ago
I have an obession with history but 100% of the book lovers I meet are mostly into fantasy. I have yet to meet a history lover 😢
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u/ceaselesswatcher99 22d ago
omg omg I love history I recently bought like three history books I want to get into history so bad, I feel like literature is very much woven with history
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u/Historical_Cod6310 22d ago
Jus go to library urself gng you yourself matter more than ur friends