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? asked in Social SciencePsychology · 2 months ago

Everyone thinks I'm smart but I feel like a fraud?

I graduated with highest grade of my year. It was a bad school. But I always thought it still meant something, I still had to work for them. My major was also social studies. I mainly studied topics like religion, history, sociologi, philosophy. 

After graduation I decided to study science and math (chemistry, physics, biology and math) I knew it was going to be challenging but I truly thought I could do it.3 months in to the programme I was exhausted, It felt like I constantly had to walk through an uphill battle while rocks were being thrown at me. I was studying for hours everyday, while always feeling behind. I would prepare days before we were supposed to do science experiments and I would still embarass myself by my lack of knowledge. I am not exaggerating, I could feel that the person that would be my partner for the day would start to sigh and be disappointed that they got me.I suddenly dropped out, I just couldn't take it, I just feel so stupid. Like genuinely dumb. I feel pathetic that I even thought I could do this. My plan was to go into STEM-field but I feel like I don't deserve to aim that high. Like who do I think I am that I actually think I can do this.I am embarrassed to tell the people around me. I know I disapointed everyone by dropping out. Everyone sees me as this straight A student who's super smart and I feel like a fraud. People constantly describe me as the smart person when I'm not.Idk what I want from posting this, maybe just some advice..

3 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    2 months ago

    Here's a secret: nobody is  smart. You can do this stuff, you just have to push yourself.

  • 2 months ago

    You tried for something you did not know well.

    You're still smart but not in science and math.

  • Cogito
    Lv 7
    2 months ago

     No, you're not a fraud, but you need to bear in mind that social studies, religion, history, sociology, philosophy, etc, are largely a matter of thinking, considering, expressing your views, using your imagination, and drawing rational conclusions.

    Chemistry, physics, biology and math are all about hard facts, being dispassionate and totally logical, studying indisputable matters, etc.

    The subject areas are totally different.

    My brother is a consultant orthodontist - brilliant at science and medicine and all of that stuff.  But his spelling is terrible, he can't write stories, his art is weak.

    I'm an English teacher, writer, proof-reader and editor.  I have a degree in teaching English.  But I can barely do basic math and never understood any chemistry or physics.

    Most people at university/college are only brilliant in ONE of those areas.  You're expecting far too much of yourself!  

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