I love this expression. Just when you’re at the highest rank, really performing at your peak (at least compared to everybody else), you move on and realize that you’re not a special snowflake anymore. It so aptly describes the transition from high school to college, college to grad school, etc., for so many over achievers. Probably there are a few rock stars out there who never perceived such a phenomenon, but I bet most of us have.
Recently I was talking with a friend who says he feels his research is much more focused and old-school than most students' in the department. He sometimes feels insecure because he doesn't totally understand nor is he especially interested in the work that many of his colleagues are doing, work that might be considered more cutting-edge. It is a unique department though, one of the best. I bet when he leaves, my friend will go from being a little fish in a big pond to a big fish in a little pond. I bet that will feel good.
5 comments:
I'm not sure what I think about being a little fish in a big pond versus a big fish in a little pond. One is better for your ego, the other is better for growth and learning.
I may be in a minority on this, but I get bored when I outgrow my pond. Although I can see how being in a smaller work pond could be nice when I have growing pains in my family pond.
Yeah, it can be boring if you're a big fish, but a struggle if you're a small fish. Probably the best situation is to be in the right size pond, but that can be hard to find.
I seem to be in several ponds at once (maybe I am a quantum fish). Some ponds are bigger than others, and I have a bigger presence in some than in others. It gives me the best of both worlds, as Mad Hatter alludes to.
Ah...and sometimes isolation from other ponds makes people think they are a bigger fish then they really are.
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