I feel like the people in my research group think I'm an idiot after I did average in my advisor's class

Welcome to real life buddy. Maybe if you'd gone to a good college you'd have encountered this problem before but no matter. Just deal with it.

I'd argue your issue is not the image but your worry about how your peers judge you.

We need more information: type of research/class, grade, school and pics.

This same dope starts a different variation of this thread almost daily.

Mods: please delete.

Op: Seek help.

I know this mathematician who earned his PhD from Princeton. Back in grad school, he took a course in topology. He was one of only 4 students in the class, and, of the 4, he was, by far, the worst student in the class. Turns out one of the other 3 was Charles Freedman, who later won the Fields medal, and the other 2 ended up winning other prestigious awards for ground breaking research. My friend is no slouch as a mathematician, he's now a full professor at a top 25 school, but at that level, it's a bit like lining up in the OIympic Finals. Getting lapped by Bekele doesn't mean you suck. It's all relative.

Michael Freedman... Sheeez! Time for more coffee....

You will learn more faster in grad school than you will ever again in your life.

They are not thinking you are stupid, they are just amazed at how far they have come.

Are you the crybaby who was whining about how you thought you did bad on an exam and asking if you should try to talk to your professor about it?

Take it like a grown up and learn from it. Work harder, study smarter, do better next time. But then again, no one gives a shit about grades in a research based PhD program.

Similar situation, took a course with my grad advisor this semester, first semester of my grad program, took the course with 3 other students, pretty sure I was comfortably the lowest performer in the class. However, my work improved throughout the semester, and I never felt judged. Got plenty of constructive criticism (not that false compliment-sandwich with a burn in the middle, but actual good feedback) and I feel like I am better than I was at the start of the semester. You go to graduate school to develop. Some people shine in the process. Some people do groundbreaking work; they are the minority, I suspect. Continue to try to improve. I suspect your labmates went through a similar experience, and even if they didn't, they are mostly likely human and therefore at least somewhat empathic. Don't suspect the worst about others, try to always be improving yourself, and focus on the process of development. It's just like in running; the process is the goal. Focus on doing the things that create progress, and the performance will come on its own.

What do you care what other people think?

http://www.amazon.com/What-Care-Other-People-Think/dp/0393320928

6/10.