I'm writing this on a throwaway as I have friends on Reddit. I need to know if my feelings are valid or if I'm being an ass.

Context, I've been with my girlfriend since we were 15, we're both 21 now. I've always known she was very smart, I mean her IQs been tested and in the 140s, but after leaving school and going into new things I've realised that she is just head and shoulders above me, and it makes me feel stupid. I don't think I'm stupid but she makes me feel it, even if it's not deliberate.

I'm a delivery driver scraping by accounting in college, I couldn't get into university. She's studying astronomy and astrophysics at a prestigious university. She's probably going to get papers published. When we go places and meet new people I feel embarrassed when she says what she does and then I have to admit what I do. I know I shouldn't feel ashamed but I do. We've never spoken about it because how do I say it without sounding like a massive dickhead.

It's not just with this, it's within conversations and arguments aswell. She is very good at putting her emotions to words and explaining why she feels that way. Where as this just doesn't come to me. So when we argue she just talks and explains her side, then when it comes to me I don't know what to say, which hurts her because it makes her think I don't care. A big issue is that if in an argument and I'm in. the wrong, she always needs to know exactly why I did what I did or said what I said, and I just can't explain. It doesn't come to me easily and I think that she is above average in this and forgets that the average persons brain doesn't move as fast as hers. She never intends to make me feel stupid but I can't help feeling like this compared to her.

People don't seem to respect our relationship either and I'm sure it's because of me. I love her with all my heart but I feel so down because of this. Any advice from anyone?