They hear me speak, notice how I react to things, how I ask questions — and they decide quickly.
“She’s inexperienced.”
“She’s naive.”
“She doesn’t really understand life yet.”

Some even say it directly.
Others just treat me that way.

It used to hurt.
I thought something was wrong with me.
That maybe I really was behind everyone else.

But over time, I started to understand the difference between lacking experience and lacking intelligence.

Yes, I haven’t lived through everything.
I haven’t made every mistake.
I haven’t been everywhere or faced every situation.

That doesn’t make me stupid.
It means my path has been different.

I learn by observing.
By listening.
By thinking things through instead of rushing into conclusions.

Sometimes people confuse curiosity with ignorance.
Kindness with weakness.
Openness with foolishness.

I don’t pretend to know what I don’t.
And I’m not ashamed of learning as I go.

Experience will come — it always does.
But self-awareness, honesty, and the ability to reflect are not things everyone develops, even after many years.

I may have less experience.
But I’m paying attention.

And that matters more than people think.