Hi, I just graduated in CS this summer. Coming into uni out of foster care I always felt that things were much more difficult for me than for other students because other students had their families for support and didn't have the same emotional baggage that I do.

There have been times though where I've wondered if I was self-handicapping, how do I know that things aren't as difficult for them? I guess I felt it would be more acceptable for someone with my background to fail or break the rules.

Like the students the author writes of, I once thought I was exceptional but I'm not and it's surprisingly difficult to be honest with yourself about that.