Imposter Syndrome: How It Might Impact Students and Ways to Deal With It
- Ingrid Guo
- Dec 25, 2020
- 3 min read
Author: Yee Xin Cher '22
It’s easy to downplay your own achievements, especially when surrounded in a community with many other talented high achievers like Lawrenceville. Though it may seem like a good humbling exercise sometimes if constantly persisted can other times be damaging to your own image of self-worth and potentially get in the way of future opportunities. A term used to describe such a psychological pattern, the imposter syndrome, was coined in 1978. It is characterized by an individual’s internalized fear of being seen or discovered as a “fraud,” as they doubt their own skills and question their accomplishments despite external evidence of competence.
You might be thinking it is sometimes good to reevaluate your achievements objectively. After all, you never want to be the person who believes they are better at something than they actually are. A typical example might be at the Harkness table as you hesitate to respond to a comment your classmate made. What if your point makes no sense? What if they laugh at you? What if the next person has a better point and makes yours look silly in comparison? It is an understandable mentality. You don’t want to have a rose-tinted perception of yourself only to be let down; it’s always easier to play it safe. It also allows for a better learning and growing experience as a student. You consider things more thoroughly before acting on them and encourages a willingness to learn from your peers in a more collaborative environment.
But, it might go beyond yourself. What about your admission into Lawrenceville in the first place? What will your parents and peers and teachers think if they find out you’re not as smart as they think you are? Even if you did fool the Lawrenceville admissions team of your competence, what if colleges can see who you “truly” are? Many things might trigger the imposter syndrome, whether you are entering a new role, feel the weight of others’ expectations of you, or are pressured by a stereotype threat. What begins as seemingly innocent doubt of your own self-worth can sometimes easily escalate into mini “existential crises.” You might start questioning your academic work, athletic work, and even your friendships, whether you truly did deserve those awards and fun times or if it was all just luck. This is where the damaging part of the imposter syndrome reveals itself. Studies have shown that the imposter syndrome, though not a mental disorder itself, commonly leads to heightened anxiety, stress, and depression. You might begin to fear failure or develop an inability to enjoy success when it does come, or unconsciously start self-sabotaging.
These moments of self-doubt may never go away, but there are ways to overcome them when they do invade your mind. It is easier said than done, but first simply recognizing these imposter feelings when they do come will better help you detach from them so that you can analyze what conditions prompted their arrival. Once you have a clearer understanding of your own personal triggers, a shift in perspective always helps. Whether you seek the support of a trusted friend or reframe the situation yourself, it is important to recognize that your personal feelings are not always representative of the truth and that every failure is a learning opportunity. Additionally, spending more time visualizing your success instead of dwelling on negative what-ifs will yield better results. Sometimes, faking confidence can lead to real confidence.
Ultimately, no matter what you tell yourself, you need to recognize that you are where you are for a reason. Once you begin to take ownership of your successes, nothing is stopping you from reaching your goals.
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