Imposter syndrome is an often hidden, rarely spoken about phenomenon that can impact performance in college and on into our adult lives. It’s that little voice inside our heads that tells us that we’re not good enough, that we don’t belong, that we don’t know what we’re doing, and we may wonder why this school, this company, this record label or gallery even chose us at all. We feel like…a fraud. We may have persistent feelings of self-doubt and inadequacy, even despite our successes and other evidence to the contrary. We may feel like we don’t actually deserve our accomplishments and positive recognitions and that they really should go to the other students, artists, co-workers. We worry that we’ll be “found out.”
That feeling of being a fake, not deserving, not belonging, hits many people, but because we don’t talk about it, we tend to feel like it’s just us that feels like an imposter. In fact, a study by the National Institute of Health reported that up to 82% of people will face the syndrome at some point in their lives, and a study by Brigham Young University found that 20% of college students experience this phenomenon.
How college students may be affected by imposter syndrome:
With the now higher expectations, those students who found high school easy can find themselves floundering during their college years, or at least have the impression that they are doing so.
In response to the stress associated with imposter syndrome, college students might avoid taking risks for fear of failing, or avoid speaking up in class. They may procrastinate, or over prepare, ignore positive feedback with the assumption that it’s just a fluke and not meant for them. They may withdraw from social activities, fail to make connections with other students or group members. And because this feeling can so rattle a person’s self-confidence, it can contribute to anxiety and even depression. All of these things can end up hurting their sense of well-being, their academic performance, and enjoyment of their college experience as well.
So how does a person manage these invasive thoughts of being a fraud?
The re-wiring and challenging of this negative thought process is very doable with some time and attention.
It’s time to lose the perfectionist goal and give yourself some slack. Let go of the need to be or appear to be perfect. Allow yourself to make mistakes or express weakness. If you don’t know how to do something or have the answer, try anyway. You might not get it right, but this is how learning happens and this is what college is for.
Understand that a person needs to accept both their strengths and their weaknesses. This is key to having a healthy sense of self-esteem and self-worth.
Challenge those negative thoughts, and swap out negative thoughts for positive ones.
If imposter syndrome is causing general anxiety, test anxiety, troublesome procrastination, or feelings of isolation, then reaching out to the campus counseling department can be a real help. Every campus has this resource and talking about feelings with another person can be extremely helpful.
Adopt a “fake it ‘til you make it” mentality. Make it a daily mantra! Nearly everyone gets nervous, including college professors, the Deans, and other professionals at the school. Even our idols in the music, art, stage and screen fields have to deal with imposter syndrome and work to overcome these thoughts. No one is perfect.
Recognize and accept these feelings. Sit with them, talk about them, let them pass. Taking the power away is a good thing.
Focus on the learning process rather than the result. Embrace challenges and understand that just because something is hard now doesn’t mean it will always be.
Again, talk about it. Opening up about your feelings of being a fraud can help to normalize them, and know that your parents, professors, mentors, and peers have likely dealt with these issues too and can help.
Celebrate your successes! It’s too easy to ignore what is going right in your daily life and to only focus on the negative. If it helps, keep a diary and track those events that went well and the positive feedback that you’ve received from others – and look back on this list often.
Surround yourself with people who will encourage you, who will cheer you on, and that you enjoy spending time with.
Stop comparing yourself to others. The truth is that other people’s achievements have no bearing at all on your worth or your talent. Most everyone is just trying to figure this out and again, no one is perfect.
Remember, many people experience imposter syndrome, people of all ages, and it’s a very common human experience. We just don’t talk enough about it. It may come on a bit during later high school years, stronger at college or grad school level, and continue on into your professional life, but perceptions are not always a reflection of reality. And to quote Dr Seuss: “Always remember you are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and twice as beautiful as you’ve ever imagined.”
