The first time I stood in front of 140 undergrads, my knees were knocking.
I clung to the lectern.
I gabbled through my notes, and had to let the students go 15 minutes early because I was finished and had nothing more to offer.
It was the first day of my full time teaching job, and I wondered if I'd made the right decision to leave journalism so I could teach journalism.
That wasn't the last day I asked myself that question.
But it got better.
I learned to pace myself.
I learned to leave the lectern.
I learned to be secure in my own expertise (after all, only one person in the room had actually worked as a journalist, and that was me.)
Within the first few months, students were connecting the dots.
They were getting aha moments.
They were laying the foundations for careers they're still in now.
And it turned out that I was - and am - a very good teacher.
My journalism experience made me good at synthesising and delivering information in the most effective way.
My avid reading and lifelong learning allowed me to draw on a wide range of inputs, beyond the academic.
My mission to help them get it led me to innovate (I'm sure at least a few of them remember the press conference exercise we did with the PR students)
Beyond all of that, I gained something priceless: the knowledge that I could show up introverted and make a difference. I was never the most flamboyant person in my department, but I was very effective, and I love teaching. (And though I know my stuff, I'm more guide on the side than sage on the stage. I always aim to leave people with stuff they can do.)
That self-awareness has helped me show up in other times and in other spaces. (I'll share a recent post about this below.)
And I've learned more things since that make it even easier, so I can make an impact without exhaustion.
What have you learned about yourself, as an introvert?
Sharon Hurley Hall is an anti-racism educator, author of I’m Tired of Racism, and founder of the SHHARE anti-racism community and of Sharon’s Anti-Racism Newsletter, which provides tools and lived experiences to fuel systemic change. A seasoned professional writer and journalist, she leverages over 30 years of experience to mentor introverted leaders, and is co-founder and co-host of the Introvert Sisters Podcast. Her recent work focuses on helping Black and Global Majority women achieve high-impact visibility and professional influence without the exhaustion of performing extroversion.
© Sharon Hurley Hall, 2026. All Rights Reserved. This newsletter is published on beehiiv (affiliate link).