Hi, I’m a mathematics student. Before continuing with my degree—I’m already two years in, so it’s a bit late—I wanted to hear the opinions of people who might have more experience or have already completed this program.
I’m in my second year and have finished about 30% of the curriculum. I’m up to date and haven’t had to retake any classes. (It’s worth noting that university education is free in my country, and the math department is highly regarded; the professors in charge are prominent figures in the national mathematics community, as far as I know.)
Here is my question and my main concern... I don’t feel I’m measuring up to what’s expected of me—or at least not to the department's standards. It would be dishonest to say I’m doing *badly*, but I do feel like I have the least potential or chance of success among my peers. This likely stems from the fact that I’m studying alongside some very gifted people. I enjoy studying mathematics; I’ve found so many topics entertaining and interesting that I can’t say I don’t love it. I’d love to make a career out of it—or at least contribute and participate—but seeing so many people in my cohort or age group with such natural talent is intimidating. Is this common?
Obviously, others must have gone through this, which is why I’m asking... I wanted to read people's opinions on this. Discussing it with friends and family back home doesn't usually get me very far; to outsiders, I’m a massive genius just for studying the subject, while those on the inside just shrug and say they don't know.