This makes him a poor kid from the wrong side of the tracks in the eyes of his status conscious schoolmates. Peter is a bright kid. He doesn't have many friends. He is ostracizes for his interest in science. Our MTV culture frowns on people who think too much.
Intellectual curiosity is decidedly un-hip.
Peter is defiant. He thinks they are the real losers. They'll be flipping burgers while he's discovering the cure for cancer. We'll see who wins in the long run. In fact, he is awesomely shy and desperately lonely and unhappy.