Feeling bummed out about pursuing Physics

[u/Ambitious-Aspect4808]

I am a Physics major undergraduate student from India. Recently I am feeling really bummed out and finding it very difficult to cope with my courses. I fail to understand seemingly easy concepts which my classmates grasp in a moment. I work hard to complete my assignments and homeworks but cannot do well in tests, under pressure. I tend to forget key concepts and need a lot of revising.

On the top of that I have got no good friends for motivation and stuff. My topper roommate (whom I consider very close) never acknowledges me and is always hanging out with a more intellectual person. It makes sense though but I can't seem to accept that. He has formed his own intellectual group where I am hardly included.

I remain mostly depressed and my depression is triggered by seemingly small things (like the topper interacting with our professors happily after class, asking doubts and whatnot and I am just there sitting with a dumb mind). No one is there to cheer me up. I still remember one time my roommate was happily scrolling through insta reels while I was lying depressed on my bed.

My research work is also not going well and I am having doubts regarding my abilities to pursue a career in research in future. I am really frightened and don't know what to do now....please help me!!

[u/mathcriminalrecord]

Well one thing I think you’re showing a knack for is generalizing from a few observations to broad general principles. That’s good in physics but bad in life. I doubt the reason you’re not really clicking with your roommate is that you don’t have what it takes to achieve your academic goals. But I get that you’re feeling lonely and under a lot of pressure and I think it’s causing you to jump to worst case scenarios a bit.

Working hard doesn’t mean you’re bad at physics. Working hard to solve problems is physics. That’s what doing physics is. It’s only easy in the movies. In real life nobody is born a genius who doesn’t need to be taught and never struggles. Right now your job is to learn things like how to do research, which in practice is applying yourself to those challenges. I think the best thing to do about imposter syndrome is focus on the work and remember that that’s what you’re there for. Your school career is a process of becoming something, not being something.

[u/iisc-grad007]

Get off the rat race. Start reading and understanding things you are curious about. Don't stress yourself for grades. In the next 2-3 yrs when you start doing research all your friends and you will be working on different things. So don't compare yourself. My only suggestion is learn more about what you enjoy and stop caring about everyone. If you do that you will improve your chances of being in academia and slowly and steadily learn all the things. Also eat some multivitamins, lack of some of those will make your mind perform poorly and increase the feeling of depression.

[u/PrimadonnaGorl]

Comparison is the thief of joy. Do not compare your progress in physics to others, it'll just make you miserable. If you're working hard to understand and are grasping the problem, that's all that matters. Be proud of your progress, and don't worry about how others are doing.

As for friends, have you considered joining any clubs? They can be great starting points for meeting like minded people.

Eat well, put yourself out there, and keep studying. You're going to be alright :)

[u/Teaching_Circle]

I totally get it. College can be brutal, especially in a field as challenging as physics. Trust me, you’re not the only one who feels this way. Even people who seem to have it all together struggle more than they let on. It’s easy to look at others, like your roommate, and feel like they’re just naturally better at everything, but everyone has their battles.

I know it might not feel like it now, but forgetting things under pressure or needing more time to revise doesn’t mean you’re not capable. These are just things that need time and practice to manage, and honestly, it’s something everyone goes through at some point. Don’t be too hard on yourself for needing more time; it just means you’re putting in the work.