3 Ways You Can Eliminate Self-Doubt As A Student
By: Kaitlyn
Do you live with constant self-doubt, have a fear of failure and always compare yourself to others? Are you someone who strives to be perfect and sets unrealistic goals for yourself? You might just have imposter syndrome.
During a previous internship, I often found myself thinking, “I don’t belong here.” These feelings followed me even after I graduated from university and gained valuable work experience, despite getting positive feedback about my job performance. I still struggled with this as I entered my postgraduate program at Sheridan. It wasn’t until I began researching this feeling that I realized it was something called imposter syndrome.
What is Imposter Syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is very common in younger adults or students starting a journey in their professional careers or education.
Imposter syndrome is a psychological experience when a person suffers from feelings of “being a fraud” in either intellectual or professional settings. This is a perceived self-doubt in one’s abilities and accomplishments compared with others, despite evidence to the contrary. For example, feeling that your classmates are smarter than you, even if you are getting great grades and positive feedback from instructors.
Starting a new job or program can feel intimidating. When I was working with older co-workers who had been at the company for over 20 years, I felt like a small fish in a large pond who was struggling to stay afloat. What I eventually realized is that everyone starts somewhere, and honestly, no one really cares about how little experience you have—they care about the skills and knowledge you bring to the table. Do you ever feel out of place in your program, despite getting mostly positive feedback and good grades?
Here are 3 ways that you can overcome imposter syndrome in your studies:
Acknowledging Your Strengths
One way that I eliminate self-doubt in myself is through writing down everything I am good at it – whether this be related to school or my personal life. By writing out your strengths, this makes you visualize and think about positive feedback you have received from family, friends or co-workers. Thinking of ways that you are unique from others and reflecting on previous praise that you have received about your work, will allow you to build confidence in your abilities. Reflecting on past achievements or compliments can also trigger memories of times when you’ve succeeded despite challenges. Celebrate yourself more!
2. Seeking Feedback
Don’t shy away from asking for feedback on your schoolwork or at your job just because you’re afraid of criticism. The truth is, you're probably doing better than you think, and constructive feedback will only help you improve even more!
Something as simple as speaking to your instructors, professors, managers or even family, can really improve your confidence, sense of belonging and self-esteem. What I really appreciated about some of my previous roles, was the emphasis on employee evaluations. It was a great opportunity to gain insight into how others perceived my progress, and it helped highlight my strengths and areas for growth. Even working at the SSU and hearing my manager tell me that she appreciates the work I am doing or that I can improve in certain areas is so helpful to my professional development.
3. Progress Over Perfectionism
There have been times when I felt that the assignments I submitted weren’t my best work, but when I received my grades, my instructor thought my work was great! These moments serve as a reminder that it’s important to believe in yourself and trust your abilities, even when you’re unsure. After all, you are your own biggest critic.
Another quality of imposter syndrome is the fear of failure and need to be perfect in every aspect of your life. Well, sadly you are going to make mistakes and not always be living the best version of yourself – and that’s okay! Celebrating progress, no matter how small, is key to overcoming self-doubt. Whether it’s improving your grade in a class or showing up for every lecture, these wins build confidence and reinforce your belief in your own abilities.
Although I still have moments of self-doubt and sometimes feel like I'm not good enough or smart enough, I’ve learned that these feelings are completely normal. Following these steps has helped reduce these thoughts and has boosted my self-confidence. You can get past the sense of being a fraud” and start feeling proud of who you are and all you've accomplished! Just remember: You do deserve to be where you are!
Looking for support to help you grow academically, personally, or socially?
Empower Me offers a full suite of academic life services, including life coaching and expert guidance, designed to help you overcome self-doubt and unlock your full potential. Check out other ways to support your well-being!
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