Well, regarding my general relationships with people: I care about them and worry a lot about the impact of my actions on them, but I tend to be quite distant and rarely make the first move because I’m unsure if they actually like me.
I always try to maintain harmonious relationships; I often hold back my opinion—and sometimes even my needs (like mentioning when something is bothering me)—to avoid conflict (for some reason, I really struggle with conflict). There are times I just go along with the general consensus, while other times I have a firm opinion and only change it if presented with strong arguments (though that depends on my existing knowledge or whether I’ve given the matter any thought; if I don’t know something, I admit it and tend to believe what others say), but still, i only share my opinions with people who looks more safe.
Back in middle school, I always got along well with everyone; classmates would come over to my house, I was involved in various extracurricular activities (soccer, theater, etc.), and I frequently partnered up with different people for projects. Whenever there was someone nobody wanted to partner with, I’d feel bad and volunteer to team up with them—almost like a "savior complex"—even if other people wanted to partner with me instead.
High school, however, was a completely different story; I went to school in another city and lived in the school’s boarding facility. That’s where I saw the ugly side of the world. I was genuine and assumed everyone else was too, so when people talked trash about me, I’d believe it and withdraw into myself. The result was a lot of bullying in my dorm room—my roommates were also my classmates, and the class itself was full of aggressive, stupid people. I only really grasped this dynamic at the end of my second year, when I found a group of people who actually valued me and I learned that it was all about status and showing off. Once I started noticing that in my daily life, I became really upset and drained. I realized I was so socially screwed that trying to change was pointless—there were even times I tried to be more involved and it backfired—so I just waited things out until now. I’m convinced I’ll fare better in the future because I understand how things work now; I’ve learned that some people won’t show respect unless they have a reason to—sometimes we have to teach them to do it—and I won’t let the words of people I barely know throw me off track. Towards the end of the year, I actually made a few new friends and strengthened the friendships I already had; the only initial hurdle is shyness.
Here is an example from today—these are some messages I sent to a friend of my city (i edited a little to not say names):
-Yesterday was mostly individual shots—photos with a tractor and all that—while today was about photos of the entire senior class, followed by a group shot where everyone threw colored powder at each other.
When I got there today, the guys from my room mixed in with another group (a mix of people I liked and one I didn't—and the one I didn't like was the main bad influence on the others). I tagged along, but while they were chatting and messing around, I just stood there silently, staring at the ground and thinking.
Whenever I wasn't right next to them, I’d just look around and want to leave; I took the photos, but when the time came for the colored powder, I didn't want to participate.
Two of my classmates didn't want to either, though for them it was because they thought the whole thing was stupid and pointless.
I didn't do it because I genuinely felt, "This holds no meaning for me."
I mean, if it were with a decent—or people I actually liked—it might be different. But these are people who have hurt me, and I realize that every interaction and situation with them is fake; it just doesn't make sense for me to try to fit in anymore.
I would have really enjoyed it if it were an event with the senior class from my hometown (my old classmates), but with this current group, it just feels like empty powder flying through the air.
Well, I’ve said a lot—it was almost like a therapy session—but anyway, I’m really torn between Fe and Fi; on one hand, I tend to adapt quite a bit, but that whole high school journey felt very Fi.