Imposter Syndrome

Imposter Syndrome: Feelings of self-doubt and personal incompetence that persist despite your education, experience, and accomplishments. This phenomenon has been something I’ve dealt with since my early years of high school and it has persisted since I’ve arrived at college. I often struggle with feeling like I am never doing enough or I am not equipped enough to deal with my tasks, academically speaking. I remember first experiencing this in high school when I entered my first AP class, which was Human Geography. I would constantly compare myself to everyone else, and thought my work was never adequate enough despite earning good grades. This only worsened as I took on more AP classes in my later years, and I found myself always comparing myself to my peers. I never felt like I was smart enough or deserved to be in my AP classes, even when I would pass the exams. It was a constant feeling of never achieving anything, although I was achieving plenty now that I look back. 

As I entered college amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, these feelings worsened. Although I was able to graduate in a pandemic with all of my required credits, I entered college feeling totally unprepared. I adjusted, took my Zoom and hybrid classes, and still came away always feeling like I didn’t do enough. Especially since I am an education major, I haven’t been able to do many things that I should due to the pandemic, like field experience and shadowing. This has led to me believing I am not “good enough” or prepared in my major since I haven’t had the ability to participate in these things. I came away from my classes feeling inadequate with a lowered confidence, although I always strive to go above and beyond on my assignments. It’s a constant, draining cycle that leads me to pushing myself to points where I feel so burnt out and low. 

Imposter Syndrome is something that many people experience, up to 70% of the population has experienced it at some point or another according to research done by psychologists. It’s a different feeling for everyone, but identifying the symptoms and addressing it before it gets out of hand is extremely important. Feelings such as low confidence, constant comparisons to others, anxiety, self-doubt, negative self-talk, and distrusting one’s capabilities are all symptoms of Imposter Syndrome. You may experience some of these, all of these, or only one of these, but each negatively influences our mental health and the way we treat ourselves. 

Being kind to ourselves is the first step to making sure we don’t let Imposter Syndrome deplete our energy and mental health. Giving yourself time to breathe, understanding our limits, and believing in our abilities is one way to start. I know that whenever I feel stressed, it’s time to step away from the assignment or problem and take time to myself. Pouring from an empty cup is never good, so take time to take care of yourself. You are not lesser or inadequate for wanting to take out time to yourself. Our limits are important to understand, so we don’t try to tackle everything in one go. Oftentimes with Imposter Syndrome, I feel the constant need to be doing something or else I am “lazy” or “unmotivated”. Chunking your assignments over the course of the day or the week is important to ensure you don’t get burnt out. This goes hand in hand with taking care of yourself. At the end of the day, we are all where we’re at because of the strengths and abilities that got us here. You are enough and giving your best is always enough.