every day I feel like I'm not smart enough

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GreatSalmonMetalCameraInKualaLumpurWithContentment
Published on
Friday, 17 October 2025
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The story

I study international relations at university, and every day I feel like I'm not smart enough, I feel stupid. It's hard for me to read and understand the material, it's hard for me to learn English (and after all these years of studying it, I still don't fully understand how to use different tenses, etc.), it's hard for me to gain the knowledge that I will need in the future. I can't read and memorize material, I have some kind of concentration problem I don't know, and any noise distracts me. I read the material, but it doesn't stick in my head. I don't know how to write reports properly, I use artificial intelligence and hate myself for it, I want to stop, but I don't know how, I was never taught this, and I don't know how to learn to write them myself. I don't have time for anything. The last time I allowed myself to really relax was in the summer, almost two months ago, because since September I've been completely immersed in my studies. I spend all my time studying, and even so, I get minimal results. I have a group of friends, and for the second year (because I've been studying here for two years), I feel like the dumbest one in our group. I always get lower grades. They have more knowledge, and they study for free because they scored high on the national test, while I failed it, and now my mom has to pay for my education, and I feel guilty about it because I let her down, since she is the only one who earns money. Today we had to pass a document (we had to translate excerpts from the UNESCO Constitution from English into our native language and vice versa). I prepared for this as best I could, considering the amount of other homework I had. I tried very hard, and I was so exhausted that for the last few days I started crying over anything, especially because of fatigue. I thought that I would pass this test today and be able to relax with peace of mind over the weekend, finally letting go a little. But I failed. 7/10, although I really hoped that the teacher would give me an 8,( I don't think I translated that badly). What also upset me was that he said in front of my classmates that he wouldn't give me an 8 because, frankly, I did much worse than Vika (my classmate who doesn't like me very much and we are like rivals). I was so ashamed, I begged him, humiliated myself, asking to retake the exam, take another test and translate, anything, just for an 8. But he said to try my luck next week, on Thursday, with the other part of my group. I left so upset because this had already happened in my first year — I got a 7 and had to retake the exam (I could have stayed with that grade, but I have a perfectionist syndrome kinda, partly because of my family, so I also spent my time then in hysterics over that grade). Then I saw that my friend had written in our friends' chat that she had gotten a 9/10. That broke me. I'm happy for her, really, I just don't understand why I can't be the same. I don't understand why I couldn't get the same satisfactory grade, why I'm doing something wrong, why I'm never good enough, why I always come across as stupid. And I'm sick of how they (my friends) try to convince me otherwise. When they always get everything right. Never once did they needed to retake the exam. And then they tell me that the grade doesn't describe me. I would say the same thing if I had such knowledge, such grades. I don't want to talk to them now, I start crying when I go into the chat and read how great my friend feels now after the exam and how good she feels, how everyone congratulates her on her good grade, when I spent the day crying and thinking why I couldn't do the same. Did I not study enough? I don't get enough sleep because of my studies, I'm not hanging out with my friends (on the internet, we usually got together to watch a movie) because I'm busy studying all day long. And now I not only have to be ashamed next Thursday and retake the exam, but also do piles of homework. There is really a lot of it, every single day, and even several pieces, and now I can't take the burden of this document off my shoulders. I am very tired, in fact, I want to rest, I want to sleep well, I want to enjoy my life, but I can't. I no longer believe that I can achieve anything in life, that this is for me and that I will be successful, I no longer believe in anything. And I don't want anything. I pray to God every day that he would just take me while I'm sleeping, or even not necessarily while I'm sleeping. I just can't take it anymore, and I don't understand how others do it, how they manage. And now, even now, I can't relax, I'm doing my homework, and on the weekend I'll be doing work for the institute. And we don't have vacation until January. I don't know if I'm strong enough to handle this.

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JubilantTanEarthMuffinPanInSydneyWithRegret 3d ago

Man, that sounds crazy stressful, and I totally get feeling overwhelmed by everything! :-/

InfiniteYellowFireBoustrophedonInReykjavikWithJoy 2d ago

it's tough when you put in so much effort and still feel like you’re not measuring up, but remember, everyone’s learning pace is different, and it doesn't define your worth.

Author 2d ago

I get your point, but i feel so depressed bc i feel like I haven't improved at all in the last two years, and why friends did, so I just feel like an outsider idk.

SnappyMidnightBlueIceBreadBasketInFlorenceWithGuilt 2d ago

If you’re leaning on AI to do the work, maybe that’s part of the problem. 🤔 It's convenient, but it’s not teaching you anything. You gotta grapple with this yourself; find ways to genuinely improve your skills rather than rely on a crutch. You’re pouring time into self-pity instead of into solution-finding. Harsh truth, yeah, but it's the reality check you need.

Author 2d ago

I don't use AI for all subjects, like only for philosophy cuz I really cannot understand it, but yeah I yet your point. It's just hard sometimes to do something after you fail every damn time

ElectricForestGreenAirMugInPragueWithConfusion 1d ago

yo, it sounds like you're really pushing yourself to the limits, and that's gotta take a toll on you; honestly tho, comparing yourself with others is a surefire way to feel even worse. maybe cut yourself some slack and focus on small wins rather than perfection; like in "The Little Engine That Could," keep telling yourself "I think I can" when times get tough. you could try breaking down your tasks into manageable chunks instead of taking them all on at once. might help ease the stress and give you some breathing room 🙂 don't be too hard on yourself, everyone struggles with something. hang in there!