I struggle with this myself from a few angles (my educational background is in creative writing, and I've been a bit of a late-bloomer, but I also experience th

I struggle with this myself from a few angles (my educational background is in creative writing, and I've been a bit of a late-bloomer, but I also experience this with programming as well). I'll give you my best conclusion (which has to some extent helped me put this sensation in my rear-view): In almost every field there is some type of prodigal-genius, and its bearers find a lot of success at a very young age. Society is in general enamored with these stories, because by and large most 25 year olds have accomplished little to nothing of note (these days, even accomplishing financial independence by that age is a coup). These people get an outsized amount of attention because of their precocious talent and drive. Because we talk about them so much, they loom much larger in our minds than they do in the real world. There aren't as many of them as you perceive there to be, and they can also be prone to burning brightly until they burn out (especially in the arts). Coverage of these people tends to ignore: the role luck often plays, and the costs that sometimes come with going so fast and achieving success so early (i.e., the things they've ignored, the blind spots they can only fill with maturity, and the struggles these will cause as they grow old enough that no one's willing to overlook these flaws anymore). In almost every field there's another type of genius that is borne more like new leather; it takes a while to break in. It takes experience, maturity and much wear for its bearers to grow comfortable with and capable of showing it off in the world.