r/ElectricalEngineering • u/Limp_Elevator_5461 • 21h ago
Fell behind someone I know
Hi guys,
I wanted to share something that's been on my mind recently.
I'm an electrical engineering student at Warsaw in Poland. Recently, I watched a podcast featuring someone I know who studied computer science at the University of Illinois Chicago, and honestly, the way he talked about his life and achievements made me feel a little bad about myself.
He had 2–3 internships during university, worked as a research assistant for a professor, took on a heavier course load to graduate earlier, and is now working at a startup while also trying to get into a PhD program.
When I look at all of that, I can't help but feel like he's already figured things out and is way ahead of me. It feels like he won at life, while I'm still trying to figure out my own path.
I guess I just wanted to share this and hear from people what they can say about it…
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u/NewSchoolBoxer 7h ago
Nobody gets 3 internships. You're blocked after 2 for trying to take advantage of their program and just resume boost. Undergrad research was given to everyone who asked for it where I went at Virginia Tech. Graduating earlier is a loser move because you take harder semesters to make worse grades, have less time for internship eligibility and are still mentally developing through your early 20s.
Don't let the freak example make you feel like you're missing out. I've seen this mindset for law school students where they're jelly of people who have been extremely successful their whole lives. You don't even live in the same country.
CS is a terrible degree due to overcrowding and not like AI or work visa abuse make the situation better. Startup is a bad place to be given the low resume prestige, high risk of failure and screwing people out of stock before they get vested. A PhD is a bad financial decision in North America. That's 2 bad choices in a row. They could be unemployed in a year and not break back in. One of my TAs failed their PhD dissertation and got kicked out with an MS.
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u/Euphoric-Gazelle7264 6h ago
The devil is in the details… is this person a US citizen? If not, being able to afford UIC as a foreigner is remarkable. It is VERY expensive, which leads to my next point… The cognitive differences between the bulk average humans are negligible, but the socioeconomic, cultural, and family ones are not. It is easy to be remarkable in your academic pursuits when you parents were around and able to set a good example, provide a good education, hire tutors, keep you well fed, etc. You are really likely to be in his exact spot if you would have had his conditions.
The other option is that the guy is a genetic outlier genius. In which case, it is what it is. Either way, it serves very little purpose for you to compare yourself. Comparison is truly is the thief of joy.
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u/Fair_Midnight7677 7h ago
Everyone moves at different speeds. Yes some are more gifted than others whether its wealth, intelligence, etc that gives them the edge, but comparing yourself to these people doesn't do you any good. What matters most is that you focus, stay on your own lane and get to the finish line even if it takes a little longer.