5 Ways to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

Experiencing Imposter Syndrome in University

As you move deeper into your major, you will start to weed out all the students who are just taking elective courses or prerequisites. Suddenly you will be left with a handful of students that you see almost every day in every class. You grow with these people. Bond with them. Struggle with them.

What happens when it feels like you aren't growing at the same pace anymore...

One day you will wake up and constantly feel like you are in a competition with your peers. I remember I always felt like my presentations where not as captivating as others, or my design projects were garbage in comparison. It feels like you are at each other’s throats constantly trying to prove your worth but dealing with the issue internally.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

where an individual doubts their skills or talents and has an internalized fear of being exposed as a fraud.

Here are five ways you can overcome Imposter Syndrome:

1. Accept that you can, and probably will, make mistakes

It is often easy to fall into this "people pleasing" mentality when you enter University. You want to make your parents proud; you want to impress your friends; you want your teacher to like you etc. This approach can be harmful to your mental stability. You are no longer letting yourself learn and absorb information. Instead, you are retaining information to pass and "get the good grade". What happens when you fail that exam or fail that paper?

Accept that you are a human being, who is learning, and you are going to make a few mistakes here and there. How you take that lesson and grow from it, is where you will find out what kind of student you are.

2. Positive Affirmations

What you put out into the world is exactly what you are going to get back. If you find yourself saying, "Wow, they are such a better writer than I am," "They never fail a test, how could I ever compare?" "I could never be that confident while giving a presentation, they are going to get a better grade than me," then you are putting out negative energy into the world and it is going to come back and damage your self-esteem.

You can always acknowledge when your classmates do well! Just never use it as a jab at your self-worth or capabilities. Positive affirmations look like, "I am so proud of myself for giving that presentation even though I was nervous," "I did well on this paper, and I will use the teachers feedback to improve it next time!" "I studied all week for this test, and I am glad I was able to pass it!"

3. Peer Review

I know it feels like the last thing you want to do is reach out to the person that you feel like you are competing against. But hear me out! If you like the way someone delivered a presentation, or how they structured their paper, or you notice that someone is constantly passing exams…You are allowed to reach out to them!

Ask for tips or advice on what a student is doing differently than you. I promise University is not as cut-throat as it seems. If you approach a classmate with genuine inquiries, you would be surprised with how much they can help you improve! Don't get this confused with asking to see a student’s completed paper you both have yet to turn in, or asking a student to provide you the answers for test, etc. Don't take advantage of their kindness!

4. Utilize Campus Resources

Whatever your mode of education may be (university, community college, trade school, etc.), most schools offer learning resources for the students. Go down to the writing center and get help with your papers, attend that group study session in the library, watch the free eLearning videos online about how to hone your craft.

If you feel like you are stuck in the same routine and getting the same results, then it’s up to you on whether or not you will grow! Utilizing these resources can open a door to new ideas and concepts that you never even imagined.

5. Give it Time

Imposter Syndrome does not disappear overnight. In fact, some people will continue to deal with it outside of the academic settings. Imposter Syndrome can show up in the workplace, within your family, or even in your favorite hobbies. The idea that you should keep in mind is that you have to be kind to yourself! You are the only person in the world that knows your limits and what you are capable of. That will always be different from everyone else. Stay focused on you and watch yourself flourish!