-Going from being the token "intellectual" in classes to being an average student has been jarring for me. I hope that doesn't sound narcissistic but my life's narrative has been constructed around being "that guy". Most of the time I thoroughly appreciate my friends intelligence and thoughtfulness. They have interesting insights and are rarely boring but there are times when I feel like I don't have a real identity anymore or a worthwhile personality and where my self-esteem bottoms out.
This was more or less my experience too. Realizing that I had to study to do well in classes was a very humbling experience for me. It's hard work and has only gotten harder with each new semester, but I believe that it has made me a better person.
