You see things. You keep quiet about them. And you understand.

I have a love-hate relationship with the word shy. And with the word introvert. And with the words quiet and wallflower. Though people usually use these words to describe me, they sometimes use them without knowing what they really mean. So I thought I would clear a few things up about these words, particularly in the way they apply to me.

I'm the first person to admit that I am shy or an introvert. As I mentioned in a post a few weeks ago, I prefer to step back and listen and observe rather than jump in and speak all the time. Don't get me wrong, I'll speak up when I have something to say or when I want to be heard, but most of the time I prefer to take it all in.

When people talk, listen completely. Most people never listen.

On Sunday, the movie "Spotlight" won for Best Picture at the Oscars. "Spotlight" was one of the few movies that was nominated this year that I actually saw, and it was so good. Yes, it's about a very important issue that came to light a few years ago, and that's important to talk about. But what I loved most about the movie is that it was about journalism.

Here at the University of Iowa, I am studying Journalism and Mass Communication. I decided to go into journalism because I have always loved to read and write. One of my favorite high school English teachers told me that good readers study English, and good writers study Journalism. I knew I wanted to write, so I followed the latter path (though I am also minoring in English).

When I decided to pursue journalism, I didn't really realize just how much it really suits me. I didn't realize until after about a year of studying journalism that it's right for me for another very important reason: I love to listen. And I'm good at it.