How would Lisa Simpson feel?

In my school days some people might have referred to me a something of a nerd. Not a geek, really, but I had braces on my teeth, frizzy hair, acne and really skinny legs.

Not that these are good reasons to be seen as a nerd, but add to all this that I always did my homework, never skipped classes and kept my grades up... you get the picture.
I was a 'B' student, although if I'd tried harder and put more effort in, I'm sure I could have been an 'A' student without too much trouble. I was just too lazy to bother. I did what I needed to do to get the grades I was comfortable with and that was all.

In junior school I was always ranked in the top 4 in my grade.
In high school I dropped down the ladder - mostly, I confess, because I didn't really care where I ranked, although I did get my Academic Colours before I graduated, something that made me very proud.

What I'm trying to say is that I am what you might call brainy. I have always been able to depend on my brainpower - even before I was aware of it. I can't think of a single situation where I haven't been one of the cleverest people around, or the best at my job. There may be a touch of over-achiever's syndrome here, but I don't see it as being full-of-myself. It's just fact. It's not bragging, it just is.
Or rather, it was...

You see, my boss - the guy who is 'mentoring' me in my fledgeling career as a DBA - is quite possibly the cleverest person I have ever met. I admire him for this and it's great to be able to ask him pretty much any question and know that he will be able to answer it and explain it. The only trouble is, he makes me feel stupid.

Don't get me wrong - he doesn't treat me badly or talk down to me. Quite the opposite, in fact. He is extremely helpful and often encourages me and 'pats me on the back' for a job well done, so to speak.
And I know I am not stupid. I know I am still learning - I've been doing this job for maybe 8 months, whereas he's been doing it for 5 years, blah, blah, blah... still, I Don't Like Not Being The Cleverest!

It's just a fact of life - he is much, much cleverer than I am and it p*sses me off like you would not believe! The worst part is, he's actually a nice person, and we get along really well so I can't even resent him for it.
Hmf! Poor me.



Oh I say, I feel much better about the whole thing now that I've blabbed it to the world at large on the Internet. This blogging thing really is like therapy, isn't it?!