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I used to dumb myself down in conversations so that I could fit in with my peers. Then, there became a time when they all seemed to become more intelligent while I was still trying to play dumb. The problem was, by playing dumb, I became dumber.

Then, there was a time where I was surrounded by intellectuals and people with more focus. I felt inferior and so, I over compensated by speaking about topics I really didn't have a real opinion on. I eventually began to read a lot more and became what I wanted to be.

Now, it seems that I am once again too smart for the room-and at the same time, not smart enough. By being the real me, I find it hard to fit in with a lot of my co-workers. The "cool crowd" thinks I'm too brainy. The political crowd thinks I'm too out of touch. The geeky crowd....well, they don't exist.

It's too late in life for me to be feeling like an awkward kid so, starting tomorrow, I'm just going to stop trying to fit in and start being me again. I'll be a lot happier that way.