I feel stupid because everyone told me I am

I am not stupid but I feel like everyone thinks I am.

A traumatic event really impacted my grades in middle school/early highschool.

Luckily, in my last 2 years of highschool I was able to pick myself up. I got academic awards, joined clubs & got straight A’s. I even did better than most of my school on a certain mandatory test.

& yet I can’t help but feel stupid.

Because of my bad grades from ages 12-15, my friends call me slow as a joke, a teacher said I wouldn’t go anywhere in life & my family started seeing me as the “non-smart” sibling.

I hate this because it has really impacted the view I have on myself.

My college GPA is a 3.97 in a stem program & I still see myself as stupid. I feel like everyone around me thinks I’m just a stupid girl.

When I applied to this program I had so many people doubt me because “it’s hard”. I’m so insecure, I know I’m not a genius, but why STUPID? Am I not just average like most people????

I worked so hard to get a 3.97 & I act like it was easy to my friends because if they know the effort I put in they’d think I was dumb.

Why did a few bad years make me feel “stupid”?

I just wish others could see me as a hard working, educated woman instead of a dumb girl.

I worked so hard and I’m still so insecure.

:(