How did I find out I was a loser?

I had always regarded myself as a winner that is, it never occurred to me that I might be a loser. This might be due to the fact that I am widely-read and knew a lot of things in great detail. My appetite for information was insatiable and I read everything there is to read about anything that my mind wanted. The curiousity was tremendous and there seemed to be no limit to what could be learned. This led me to believe that I would succeed in everything that I wanted to do. And this might be the source of my problem.

As I had said earlier, I had skills and brains and talent. People liked me. I once set out to become president of the student council and I did it. There seemed to be no limit to what I can achieve. I was in the honors class. I had a band and we played in school events. I was popular. Who would think that there was a closet loser hiding beneath a seemingly sure-fire winner?

What makes a loser?

I am what might be called a loser. This is not because I am stupid or lacking in talent. On the contrary, I am what you would call precocious as a child having been gifted with musical talent that turn people's heads. Combine that with a sharp mind which easily grasps things and concepts and ideas and lessons and I would say that I have a combination which should make me a sure-fire winner.

Like I said, brains was not the issue. I would stand out just on this basis alone. Combine that with the sweetest voice that would put a nightingale to shame and you have a formula for a heart-breaker-in-waiting. So, what is this discussion all about? Did I not get honors in class? Was I shy and nerdy? Not really. I would figure in school bus fights being both aggressive and easily goaded into fighting.