Why does being in university make me feel ugly and unintelligent
I go to an ivy league school in the United States and I study engineering. Since I started my degree, I have become so self conscious and overwhelmed by how stunning and seemingly effortless everyone else around me is. Everyone here is smart, hardworking, well spoken and so PRETTY. It doesn't make sense how people do it all. I believe this has something to do with many people at my university coming from money (which I do not) and also often fitting in to eurocentric and western beauty standards (which I also do not).
I thought I was pretty... I had friends and good style in high school, but since being here no part of me believes that anymore. Its so hard to keep up academically never mind socially, and I feel like the troubles I have socially are because I am not as pretty and cool as all the other women here. I know this all sounds superficial, because being pretty doesn't mean having a good career and life right?... right?!?
Realistically, I want to be a well rounded person. I want to have a lot of friends and a big family. I want to be good at my hobbies and create a nice life for myself and the people I love. If I have learned anything at an ivy league, it is that networking is so important. Everyone knows that is a big reason why people come to high profile schools to begin with, but being emersed and knowing people that only succeed because of who they know is somewhat unnatural. Part of what makes me feel so ugly is that "pretty privilege" is real, and I feel like people will not connect with me when they could connect with the just-as-smart-as-me blond haired girl.
Did I mention I've never been in a relationship? Right, so, men don't talk to me because they think I'm ugly, which means I am ugly. And I don't want to hear anything about "well maybe your personality sucks that's why guys don't like you" because I know the worst girl who are hot and have guys swooning anyways.
So pretty much... I'm never going to get married, I'm never going to have kids and I am going to die alone cold in an empty house cradling my overpriced engineering degree. It feels like a lot to compete with. I just want to go back home.