No matter how capable you are, navigating a rigorous academic program can trigger unexpected challenges. One hurdle for people from all backgrounds is imposter syndrome, a nagging feeling of self-doubt.
While the causes and symptoms of imposter syndrome can vary, the underlying psychology is a belief that your successes were just luck — you don’t really deserve to be at your school, and you will soon be exposed as a fraud. These thoughts can cause a variety of crippling psychological effects that erode self-confidence and ability to thrive.
What’s more, imposter syndrome is often accompanied by depression and anxiety, which can cause both underperformance and overperformance. Some people can hardly get out of bed and isolate themselves. For others, their fear of failure prompts them to launch an exhausting attempt to overcome these feelings through perfectionism. But despite all their hard work, they believe that their accomplishments are due more to luck than talent.
It’s common across demographics, but imposter syndrome often arises in underrepresented people who feel out of place in mainstream spaces.
It’s common across demographics, but imposter syndrome often arises in underrepresented people who feel out of place in mainstream spaces. It can also arise from not understanding that other people also have inner struggles. Because society encourages us to conceal our fears behind a polished exterior, we can know others only by what they show us. In contrast, we are acutely aware of our own shortcomings and can experience an unwarranted sense of comparative inferiority.
The college and graduate school environments exacerbate these feelings. Many students mistakenly believe that past success guarantees future achievements, leading to disillusionment when new challenges come along. The pressure to excel can make them question their abilities and feel they’ve deceived others into believing they’re more capable than they are.
Imposter syndrome may also affect Native students more frequently and more deeply due to added struggles with identity and cultural disconnection. Many of us come from a rural reservation where culture is woven into daily life, but the culture on campus can be far different, leaving us feeling uncomfortably out of place.
Our difficulties adapting can mimic those affecting international students. But while the cultures of foreign students are often celebrated, we may be asked, directly or indirectly, to leave our culture at the door. Over time, it can feel as though we are losing ourselves as we live mostly in a state of cultural deficiency.
Disconnects can also happen on the academic side if advisors are attempting to train Native students to be just like them because they believe sticking to Western science is key to success in a world where space is not typically held for Indigenous science. What’s more, universities are too often uninterested in pursuing research targeting tribal issues. All these factors can lead us to feel as if we don’t belong. We may pretend to fit in while deep down knowing we never truly could.
Like the flu, imposter syndrome is both common and highly treatable. Be honest with yourself about your needs. If you open up to others, you will likely discover that some level of imposter syndrome has impacted your peers and advisors (yes, even this author!). You are not alone, but don’t wait to get in front of those insidious feelings. Imposter syndrome can become more pronounced as you advance in your studies and take on greater responsibilities.
Many of us come from a rural reservation where culture is woven into daily life, but the culture on campus can be far different, leaving us feeling uncomfortably out of place.
Finding a mentor, says Dr. Mark Bellcourt, a retired professor and former member of the AISES Board of Directors, can be extremely helpful. “In graduate school, I won a fellowship. I didn’t cash any checks for three months because I was so sure that they would call and say they gave me the fellowship by mistake,” he recalls. “I never fully got over it, but I knew there were people supporting me and I eventually believed them that I was good enough.”
When considering a degree program, see if the school offers support for Native American students. In addition to AISES College Chapters, many universities have spaces and services for Native students that offer an opportunity to connect and build a supportive network, which can be the single best means of combating imposter syndrome. The “Top 200 Colleges for Indigenous Students” in this Special College Issue shows you the number of Indigenous students at each institution and the special programs that support them. If you’re at a school without a solid support system, one of the best things you can do is attend AISES National Conferences. There you can open up about your feelings of inadequacy and receive support from your peers and the elders.
Strategies for Building Resilience
Occasionally feeling like an imposter may be a normal part of being human, but you don’t want that menacing self-doubt to stick around. Practice these strategies for exercising your psychological strength:
Try simple deep breathing to counter the inner voice that keeps asking, “What do you think you’re doing here?”
Practice positive self-messaging. Be mindful of your negative feelings, but stand up to your fears.
See the big picture. What facts in your wider world refute your self-doubt?
Resist the urge to be perfect. Share your feelings with someone you trust who can validate you.
Applaud your successes but talk through your failures with trusted peers — you’ll discover you’re not alone. Inventory your emotional reactions without judgment or spiraling into unhelpful thoughts.
Accept that imposter feelings are normal and will probably keep cropping up, but if they ever keep you from functioning in your daily life, it’s time to work through them. Most schools offer counseling services, so don’t hesitate to get the support you need and deserve.