By JADA McGEE/Contributor
Rajala Buckner doesn’t believe in herself.
“I’ve cried many times because I doubt my abilities,” Buckner, a senior wellness major, said.
Like many students, Buckner deals with imposter syndrome.
First identified in a 1978 study, imposter syndrome is the persistent feeling that you don’t deserve your achievements and doubt your intelligence or abilities.
“Imposter syndrome feels like I constantly doubt my ability to be successful,” Buckner said. “I overthink things because I feel pressure to meet age-related milestones.”
This ambiguity intensifies as she navigates life as a nontraditional student.
“Being almost 30 adds pressure on me to succeed because I don’t feel a sense of belonging with the younger generation,” Buckner said.
The uncertainty drives her to try reach the milestones of her peers.
“I often compare myself to others to ensure I’m doing the right things,” Buckner said. “And if that’s not enough, I downplay, feeling lucky and undeserving.”
Imposter syndrome drives people to attribute success to fortune rather than competence, which leads to persistent self-doubt and anxiety.
DO I BELONG?
This struggle resonates with those who questioned where they belong.
“Since changing (major) from sonography … I felt I didn’t belong, and I pushed through to make myself feel like I belong,” Macy Bagby, a senior health science major, said.
Doubts about her future linger beneath the surface.
“Even still, I’m questioning if I made the right decision, leaving sonography because with my health science degree, I do not know if I’ll have a job,” Bagby said.
The fear of the unknown weighs heavily on her.
“I feel scared, and I put myself down,” Bagby said.
That fear slowly morphs into self-doubt, eroding her confidence.
“You start sabotaging yourself and failing because you don’t feel adequate for the job,” Bagby said.
COMMON COLLEGE EXPERIENCE
According to a study by Best Colleges, an online guide to higher education, many students, experience imposter syndrome at some point.
Best Colleges found:
- 20% of college students experience imposter syndrome.
- 82% of people in medical studies face the syndrome at some point.
- First-generation students report a higher incidence of feeling like an imposter at school, as well as being overachievers.
Many faculty and students report experiencing feelings of self-doubt about their accomplishments and abilities in their academic careers, according to the Harriet W. Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning at Brown University.
The center says these feelings include:
- A belief that one has fooled others into overrating one’s abilities.
- The attribution of success to luck, misjudgment, charm, networking, presentation skills, or a lowering of standards.
For some, imposter syndrome doesn’t fit into their life.
“I don’t consider myself to match this syndrome because I keep myself busy with my master’s program,” Hailey Edwards, a master’s in business administration student, said.
She focuses on long-term professional growth.
“While I don’t understand or feel like I have imposter syndrome, I can sympathize with people who do,” Edwards said. “I’m sure it’s not a great feeling or an easy task to get over.”
OVERCOMING IMPOSTER SYNDROME
According to Best Colleges, one way to overcome imposter syndrome is to confide in classmates or friends and know that others experience similar feelings.
Chloe Vaughn, a senior international relations major, said she adopts the mantra “fake it ‘til you make it.”
“It gives me a warm feeling to know others experience what I do,” Vaughn said. “I know I’m not alone, and I feel seen.”
That solidarity deepened when she noticed the same struggles in someone close to her.
“What’s crazy is my boyfriend, Isaiah, goes through it too,” Vaughn said. “No matter what, we will help each other push through the self-doubt because it’s heavy to face alone, but lighter with someone by your side.”
