One of the challenges a student, especially one struggling in school, may face is comparing oneself to others in academic performance which can lead to low self-esteem and confidence. While it is good to seek inspiration from another’s success (“He did it. That’s awesome. I can do it too!”), it is neither healthy nor helpful to compare yourself with another (“She is so smart. Why can’t I be smart like her? Do I have it in me to excel?”).
Comparing yourself with another person in your academic performance is not an accurate comparison. Neither is it fair. You and the other person have different starting points, different life experiences, different strengths and weaknesses, and different degrees of knowledge gaps. Even identical twins, although genetically identical, differ in all of the above as well as in their personalities and can’t be compared to one another! So how can you compare yourself to someone else? It doesn’t make any sense.
Dr. Jordan Peterson, in his book 12 Rules for Life, states a phenomenal rule: Compare yourself to who you were yesterday, not to who someone else is today.
