What is the meaning/grammar behind noun + でいる?


I've come across phrases like this a couple of times where でいる is used right
after a noun instead of the usual Te-form verb + いる:

> どうせ学生 **でいる** なら一番でいたいし

In this case is it basically just the same as である?




いる means to stay and で いる means to remain something or to keep being
something.

It's different from である in the point that でいる implies that one is in that
state for a certain period of time and no longer so when it's expired.




いる means to stay and で いる means to remain something or to keep being
something.

It's different from である in the point that でいる implies that one is in that
state for a certain period of time and no longer so when it's expired.

