Does becoming quiet after changing schools mean a child was always introverted?

Not necessarily. After changing schools, a child may still be adjusting without familiar people nearby. Being quiet now does not mean they have always been that way. I was very different in elementary school and junior high school myself.

In elementary school in Shilin, I often went out after school with my cousin, classmates, and neighbors. At school, friends and I made up short plays and performed on stage. I was lively and happy then. Later, I moved to Taishan for junior high school. My childhood playmates were no longer there, and I did not yet know my new classmates. I suddenly felt lonely and a little afraid of the unfamiliar environment. Although I had been outgoing, I became much quieter during that period.

Later, an older student showed concern and chatted with me, and I became very interested in the Scout troop he belonged to. Looking back, perhaps I simply longed for a friend and a sense of belonging. When a child becomes quiet in a new environment, first look at what they are experiencing and whether familiar people are nearby. Simply calling them introverted does not mean we understand.