Imposter Syndrome Has A Common Occurrence In College Students And It's Time To Address It | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Imposter Syndrome Has A Common Occurrence In College Students And It's Time To Address It

How to deal with Imposter Syndrome, insecurity, and fear of the future.

111
Imposter Syndrome Has A Common Occurrence In College Students And It's Time To Address It
Personal Photo

As I have spoken to people this semester, I have noticed a recurring theme in the conversation: stress, fear, and an uncertainty regarding the future. People are second guessing their majors, their futures, and doubting their abilities - including me. I have found myself wondering how I have reached the achievements I have, and gained the experiences I have, when I feel so incompetent. As I did research, and spoke with others, I found out there was a specific term to explain this: Imposter Syndrome.

Imposter Syndrome is defined in the Oxford Dictionary as:

"the persistent inability to believe that one's success is deserved or has been legitimately achieved as a result of one's own efforts or skills."

As I examine my own life, I have found this tends to manifest in the constant feeling of the good things in my life are a result of a fluke or an example of luck. I got into the university through luck. I have progressed through research by faking it and fooling people into thinking I actually know what I am talking about. But the thing is, I do. I am intelligent. I did the work, and the research, and the presentations, and I gained knowledge that I didn't have before. Just because I don't know everything there is to know about my field yet does not mean I am not accomplished. It simply means I am still growing. But I need to celebrate the growth I've already undergone.

What came as a great relief was the discovery that I was not alone. Maya Angelou herself was quoted several times expressing fear that one day everyone would see through her and recognize her as the fraud that she was. She wrote her books, and spoke, and developed her own wisdom, but found she felt as if she'd been living a dream. Someone else had done these things and she was merely getting the credit for it.

This doesn't just affect the most successful though. Imposter Syndrome can affect anyone, particularly those who are undergoing rapid changes or periods of growth. It can increase anxiety levels, and impact depression. People lose sleep and experience physiological affects. Overall, there is a sense of dread and fear, and this idea that you will one day lose everything because you did not truly earn it.


However, this was not written to explain all of this and leave it there. That would be depressing and underwhelming. I must note that I am not a therapist (clearly) and I am not yet a professional, so if you feel these things often and at extreme levels, I encourage you to seek a professional's guidance, not just the well meaning but not unbiased blog-writing of a college student. There are ways to help when these feelings come temporarily, or cause just enough doubt to make you think. It will come as no surprise, but some of the best aids are helpful for those who experience anxiety and depression as well (or other mental health issues).

I have found positive affirmations to be the most helpful. As is the case with other intrusive thoughts or unhealthy habits, you must recognize it and then implement a change. I first began noticing the way I spoke to myself. If I messed up it was usual followed by a self aimed insult. If I was considering things I've done it was viewed as if through a lens, like I wasn't the one doing it. There were several forms of unhealthy and unproductive thoughts, and I began to recognize it. I then found there were many things I have done and many accomplishments I have earned, because I did the work. I had gained the knowledge and I had grown. I had been holding onto a perfectionists ideals and felt like I was behind because I was not living up to a standard set in my own head.

So what did I do? What do I continue to do? Challenge the thoughts. Every time I caught myself insulting myself, I would have to think of something positive (be it in regards to my personality, my being, or my achievements). If I found myself questioning my skill I would have to remind myself where I began, and how much progress I have in fact made.

This is not an immediate cure. I am still trying to condition myself, and it takes work and patience. However, a therapist once gave me a reminder that I still find helpful several years later. "It is about progress, not perfection." We are in school to learn. We do research because there are questions we do not have answers to. If we knew everything, we would truly have to ask "what is the point?" Instead we can continue to grow. We can continue to ask questions. It is frustrating, particularly when you have a goal in mind that seems much too far away. However, if you remember where you began, and praise yourself where praise is due, you will find it makes a small but helpful difference in the way you view yourself and your growth.


Find more information about Imposter Syndrome and how to deal with it via this Ted Talk.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

189866
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14693
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457692
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26542
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments