The Meyers-Briggs personality test is a way to categorize personality types, but it always divides people based on introversion or extraversion. As someone who resonates deeply with both introverts and extraverts, I tended to fall right on the line and didn’t see where I fit in. Since I learned about ambiverts, my own social tendencies seem to make much more sense. So, who are these lesser-known people? And why do they tend to be the most successful of all the groups?

Ambiverts are people who identify with both introverted and extroverted qualities. They value solitude and use it wisely, but they also enjoy being with friends and being social. Ambiverts weigh their options carefully and use social activity as something productive. This helps them excel in areas that someone who is solely one way or the other may struggle with. For example, an extrovert may have a hard time sitting down to write an essay by themselves, while an ambivert is well-versed in spending time with themselves and getting things done. Similarly, an introvert may struggle to join new activities if they don’t know anyone there, but if an ambivert sees value in the activity, they will be able to make friends in the situation.

Some people disagree with the concept of ambiverts. Senior Marshall Womer says, “The whole idea of ambiversion is wrong…. It defeats the purpose of dividing people into extroverts and introverts, since everyone is a mix of both.” He emphasizes that tests such as Meyers-Briggs are designed to identify which category a person most belongs to rather than a definitive for all of their actions.

Senior Evvy Adams has a similar sentiment. “I would say [I am an ambivert], yeah. But I feel like everybody is though,” she says.

Neurological experts recommend that both introverts and extroverts try to learn something from ambiverts. For an introvert, this may look like putting yourself out there more or trying new things. An extrovert is recommended to set aside time for journaling or meditation to find peace in the quiet.

Being an ambivert allows a person to relate better to everyone else, no matter what category they would be put in, and I think this is the most valuable quality of all. The ability to be empathetic is the ability to make genuine, lasting connections that will serve both parties for their lifetimes.