Imposter Syndrome: A Cycle of Self Doubt

By Eunice Kim

Cypress High School

An increasing number of students are experiencing a phenomenon known as imposter syndrome. Harvard Business Review defines this term as a “collection of feelings of inadequacy that persist despite evident success.” Imposter syndrome perpetuates self-doubt and an overwhelming sense of “intellectual fraudulence.” People aren’t able to internalize achievements and give credit to themselves. However, this is not to be mistaken for having low confidence. Interestingly, according to the Chronicle of Higher Education, women in academia are far more susceptible to imposter syndrome than men. And I can attest to that statement. Ever since my freshman year of high school, I have constantly compared myself to others and therefore felt inadequate. To see if others felt the same, I interviewed fellow high school women to document their experiences with imposter syndrome before exploring some solutions. 

"Imposter syndrome makes me feel like I'm not good enough no matter what I do." - Lianne Cha

First, I spoke with Lianna Cha, a rising junior at Oxford Academy, and she said, “Imposter syndrome is something that I have struggled with for most of my school career. It hit hard this past year, and my anxiousness escalated.” She shared that there was a point where she was experiencing breakdowns daily because she felt that she was not “good enough”. Similarly, a rising junior from Troy High School, Victoria Choi, said, “I feel like I’m not doing as much as I could or should, especially because of the quarantine. I’ve dropped activities, volunteering, summer camps, and I feel less productive.” Despite the continuous work that she has been contributing to her outside activities, she feels like it’s not enough. And unfortunately, imposter syndrome isn’t limited to just us.

A 2019 study involving 1326 female academics reported that 95% of the participants experienced moderate, frequent, or intense levels of imposter syndrome. Clearly, it’s a common phenomenon, so how do we fight it? Here are three tips:

1. A constant cycle of negativity reinforces the idea that you are not good enough. Thoughts reflect internal feelings. Telling yourself that you can’t and won’t achieve better hinders your drive and potential. So the first step is to change how you think about yourself. Although it may feel a little weird, repeat positive affirmations to remind yourself of what you have done as it will motivate you. 

2. Find someone to talk to. It sounds fairly simple, but at times it’s hard to disclose inner thoughts. Finding a trusted individual like a parent or friend helps process emotions and allows for the other to offer insight. Talking acknowledges the problem at hand and works to undo it. 

3. Separate feelings from facts. It’s easy to get caught up in the emotions of the moment, losing sight of what is true. So, before you hurl your mind into the black hole of negativity, take a moment to analyze yourself. Repeat your accomplishments, dreams, and goals out loud. 

Understand that it’s okay to feel inadequate at times, but learn to jump back up and hit the ground running. We can do anything that we put our minds to.