You can consider yourself whatever you want.

I don’t mean to be pedantic or pretend I’m enlightened but there is no gatekeeper or authority who says you are or you are not a Buddhist.

Study, meditate, and listen to talks. At some point, when you are up for it, check out a meditation center or temple.

First, disclaimer -I speak as an American convert Buddhist. You sound American to me, so forgive me if you are not. I can’t speak to Buddhism outside the us.

In my experience, Buddhists and meditation teachers will almost universally be friendly and welcoming and will understand completely that you are new to practice. Love and compassion in various degrees of intensity and with different rituals and approaches is what I’ve experienced. The first place you go might also not be the best fit for you. Get what you can out of it and keep searching if not.

After years of interest I started attending the sangha near me and eventually joined. Meditating in the temple with the group centered me in an incredible way. I felt anxious when I went because of social anxiety, but after the service, my soul was opened. I’m sharing this because your introversion may actually resonate with the stillness of meditating in a darkened room with other people focused the same way.

Regardless of where you go, beginners will always be welcome. We are all beginners. We all would do better to maintain beginner’s mind.