[this got longer than I intended. tl;dr at the bottom]

So yes, people do a pretty horrible job of self-evaluation in general. Not only do people have disproportionately high opinions of their abilities (or maybe that's just me), but I've noticed that when people are bad at something they can't deny, they're not just bad but "the worst ever haha it's actually embarrassing I'm so weird." (Incidentally yes I hate people being backhandedly proud of sucking excessively at things just because it makes them different and special, but that's beside the point.) But anyways here is a problem, as  see it- no one wants to be average at anything, and as such we have serious problems assessing ourselves as average or slightly below average.

Anecdotal example you say? Well. AP students are a generally bright bunch of people. They're also a generally practical group of people, who presumably wouldn't take an AP test if they weren't reasonably confident they could at least pass. And yet the average score on the AP Physics B test in 2009 was a 2.88. The /average/ student did not pass the exam, never mind actually get college credit.

The problem is, no one ever thinks they're that person. "Oh, there are a lot of people dumber than me who bring the numbers down," "You'll be fine, you're totally above average," etc. But here's the thing. A lot of people are average, and a lot of people are below average.

And I found out today I am one of those people. I think I can honestly say I'm an above average student. But hey, maybe I'm wrong. And more importantly, I thought I was at least an average physics student, but I'm seriously doubting that I passed that test. I'll probably be between a 2 and a 3, and it will probably be a 2. And actually, if my already overestimated self-reflection is a 2, I'll probably end up with a 1. Which is AWESOME. AWESOME GUYS.

actually freaking out now

all I want is a 3

that is all

really

I want actually good scores on my other ones but for physics I would be absolutely content with just a passing grade

dear god what am I doing

We're going to attack this like Teddy Roosevelt did asthma.

As in, take on a seemingly impossible task and fucking box our way through it until we BEAT GODDAMN ASTHMA.

May the 4th be with us.