Given the recent events taken place at universities broadcasting the inequality in the education system this is a perfect time to address one of the challenges many first generation students and students of color combate while in college, imposter syndrome.
What is imposter syndrome?
Imposter syndrome is the overwhelming sensation that all your accomplishment, successes, and accolades are not deserved therefore making you a fraud. In a recent study published by USA today, psychologists showed that students of color are confronted with mental distress due to dealing with imposter syndrome in college. For many first-generation college students, it is typical as the first in their family seeking higher education, that they may not always feel as though they fit in their learning environment. Besides having to battle structural problems such as socioeconomic status and lack of educational resources, students also have to combat psychological problems such as imposter syndrome. This not only affects a students perception of themselves, their mental health, but also their confidence in school that later can damage their grades.
How do I deal with it?
Imposter syndrome is something you may only deal with a short period of your time or it can be a lifetime battle. In order to deal with it, the best way is having a solid support group whether it be friends, family, or chosen family that you can address these insecurities to and remind you of how far you have come and how far you can go.
For more resources on the effects of imposter syndrome check out USA Today’s article
