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You might live by the mantra, “Fake it till you make it” to get through college but hiding behind a facade can affect your performance inside and outside the laboratory or newsroom. Talking to your peers will reveal you are not the only one facing this issue and can help you conquer it together. 

 

Some students have found effective ways to cope. 

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Singleton was anxious as a freshman, but realized quickly, “I was fine and that everyone puts on an act in the first few weeks of class,” she said. 

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Hussain who had doubts in her abilities initially has now found effective ways around this mentality. “Ways I learned to cope with this thought process includes learning that everyone truly is different. Someone may be bad at something you’re good at and others might be successful in ways that you are not. Everyone is their own person, it’s what makes up our identity,” she said. 

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Burnett has also found ways to simmer down her constant desire to overachieve.

“I cope by reminding myself that I have a lot more knowledge than a person that hasn’t been introduced to the skills that I’ve gained. I also have to remind myself of my affirmations that I reiterate to myself: I'm in the position that I'm in not because of luck, but because of what I know and my ability to adapt,” she said.

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After Lauren found out she has imposter syndrome she is “trying to take it day by day instead of looking so far into the future. Just looking at what I can accomplish now,” she stated.

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Knowing that you're not alone and you have a sea of peers who are in the same boat can make a huge difference in the way you perceive yourself. 

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