The difference that adults have figured out is that announcing your current role is usually a better option than boasting your talents, both in terms of inner p

The difference that adults have figured out is that announcing your current role is usually a better option than boasting your talents, both in terms of inner psyche and how it sounds to others: "I am a researcher" = oh, so you must spend a lot of time in the lab. "I am good at research" = how many papers have you published lately? But one role we do not know how to deal with well is "unemployed", and likewise we are hesitant to accept the spectrum of roles that are generally unattached to institutions, from "musician" to "entrepreneur". It's much easier for everyone if you say "PhD student".