Dealing With Political Imposter Syndrome

Jaden Smith was right in that one interview clip. We need to talk about the political and economic state of the world right now. But sometimes that’s hard to do when you don’t know how to put your views into words, or you’re nervous you just don’t know enough to say anything at all. Regardless of how we feel, the time to get educated and stay educated through political discourse is now. 

For me, politics, history, the news have always been daunting. Fascinating. Important. But daunting. Sometimes I’ll go through phases where I read the news regularly—almost too much—but then I get too busy or too bummed out and the phase ends. In general, though, I’ve always had something like a fear that I was uninformed. As I get older, I’m realizing that it doesn’t take a daily habit to be informed about current events. You don’t have to sit down with a newspaper and coffee every morning, reading through wire frame glasses on the bridge of your nose, to know what’s going on in the world. You pretty much just have to be alive. Especially in the technological age we’re in, we’re constantly flooded with information. I’m starting to think that I would only actually be ignorant (like my anxiety can tend to convince me I am) if I were actively avoiding the news in all of the different forms it comes. The truth is, when I go to work and class every day, talk with my friends and family, I’m paying attention to the world around me—even if I’m not scouring the web for updates on every political development, I’m hearing the news in some capacity and I’m making my own judgements. 

At the same time, I could be learning more, and one way to do that is to have conversations about important current events. These conversations are something that, for some reason, I have always felt wary about getting into. That wariness developed into a pattern of avoiding serious subjects that I’m not exactly proud of. I’m not saying that I should be going around asking everyone I meet what they think about one piece of news or another. I am saying that everyday conversations are, in some ways, the essence of politics; by avoiding them, we risk doing ourselves, and society, a disservice. So be open to and prepared for those conversations. Do your research. Find the time to read the news. I have found following trusted news sources on social media is also helpful for keeping up—but only do this if you like your Instagram memes with a side of real sh*t. 

I do think this feeling like I may not be educated enough about politics could also be an indicator that I’m not. At the very least, I have work to do. Information about current events and political developments is all too accessible for any of us to shy away from it. Especially with multiple humanitarian crises going on throughout the world; with women’s rights, human rights, and the first amendment under attack in the United States; with a generation of young voters preparing to inherit a world full of chaos we did not create, it’s becoming more and more important every second to know what the hell is really going on. 

Not being a poli sci major, or not having time to have read the news every morning is no excuse to not engage with peers about the state of our world. We are all members of the same society and even though some people may have a more specialized education on a topic or may be more up-to-date on the news doesn’t mean you should ever hesitate to open a dialogue with them about it—it actually means the opposite. Political conversations are really important tools we can use to continue learning and growing as individuals and as a society. We all have our own views and ideas, and they are important. We all bring knowledge to the table, but we have to speak up in order to share that knowledge and gain new knowledge from each other. Having these conversations with anyone in your life, regardless of their viewpoints or expertise, is an opportunity for growth and connection in a time where growth and connection seem impossible to find. 

Knowledge is power. And power is what we stand to lose if we don’t engage in these important conversations.

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