I can’t help but feel/know I’m far more retarded than most of the world. I’m 21 in college, but I still struggle with geography, science, math, and basic economics.

I pass all my classes via tutors or cramming, but dedicate all my spare learning time to getting better at drawing, and it’s going well. People like my art, but I just feel bad waking up every day knowing I’m dumber than a lot of my friends.

>>33373567 (OP)
>dedicate all my spare learning time to getting better at drawing
That might be part of the problem - dividing your attention too much. "Attention" is like a fixed bucket of water you get at the start of each day. Doing one thing at a time is the way to go, with sensibly chosen breaks, but keep coming back to the main thing.

For efficient reading, see my other comment:

https://archive.4plebs.org/adv/thread/33313418/#q33316056

You are exactly as smart or dumb as you act, so learn to act smart. Often, the smartest thing to do is to say nothing, do nothing, say "no," and let people think whatever they want about you.

>>33373679
So you think I should take time to read more alongside my primary goal of drawing?

>>33373567 (OP)
Being selfaware is good, you don't need to be smart to make reasonable life decisions. And if you feel guilty for needing extra studying don't be so focused on it, any job you will get hired for will train you to work, exams are a test, not your truth as an individual. Improve your skills, be kind and make a good circle of friends, connections will get you more help than you can realize. But be careful, because you can get exploited at any step.
tldr; It's okay to be dumb, but you don't have to make dumb decisions.

>>33373691
>So you think I should take time to read more alongside my primary goal of drawing?
I'm saying you need to sort out your primary goal before being concerned with tactics.

>>33373765
But how do I sort that out? If anything I feel it’s majority sorted out as it’s been what I work on the most. Shouldn’t it be that I sort out everything around it?

>>33373819
Make up your mind what you want to do with your life. I'm not there and I'm not you so I can't advise you on what choices to make.

What does it matter if you’re smart or not? A couple of my good friends are dumb as fuck but it doesn’t affect anything really. Doesn’t affect our friendship in any way and they seem to be going along in life just fine. Get a career in your means then just live your life - people are too selfish and self absorbed to give a shit how smart or dumb you are. Real people anyway online people don’t matter