4 ms·

College doesn't "cure" imposter syndrome. I'm not sure what does.

by unclebucknasty 11y ago

JBReefer 11y ago
Only time, I'd say. My best educated friends have Imposter syndrome the worst.
- unclebucknasty 11y ago
  I think there's something to that. The more you learn, the more you realize you don't know. You also tend to be exposed to other well-educated people who are specialized in areas you are not.
eropple 11y ago
For me, success. I started being much more willing to believe the projection of confidence that I had learned to do in order to sell myself as capable and competent once I realized that I was coming in above the level promised by that projection in the first place. It really is "fake it 'til you make it." But in my experience that does go away, a lot, once you can really say to yourself that you've made it (even just a little).
- unclebucknasty 11y ago
  But, success is actually a prerequisite for imposter syndrome. It's the haunting feeling that you don't deserve that success and that you will be somehow "discovered". One thing I can relate to though is working really hard for fear of underperforming or proving to be under qualified, only to learn later that others felt I was performing exceedingly well.
  - eropple 11y ago
    Success is a prerequisite, but what I was trying to say is that sustained success--what I use to validate that, no, really, I am walking my talk--can drive it away.
alexashka 11y ago
Impostor syndrome is just a specialized example of not understanding your place in the world (being insecure). What cures insecurity is a shift of priorities and worldview - from the unrealistic list of achievements you've been told you need to accomplish (the root of your insecurity syndromes), to doing your own thing, to living your own life. Of course that involves alienating everyone you rely upon for the most part. So not only do you need to be strong enough to stand on your own two feet emotionally, but financially as well. So it's baby-steps to get there, like everything else.
wallflower 11y ago
The only cure to imposter syndrome is to help others with their imposter syndrome (e.g. mentoring junior developers to blossom their confidence and skills or teaching underserved populations computational thinking). Once you get it to the next level (e.g. your imposter students mentoring/teaching the next generation), hopefully your imposter mentality will start to exponentially fade.
eplanit 11y ago
Exactly. I have a MS degree and am gratefully enjoying an ongoing, successful 25+ year career -- and have wrestled with Imposter Syndrome most every day of it.

College doesn't "cure" imposter syndrome. I'm not sure what does.

JBReefer 11y ago

Only time, I'd say. My best educated friends have Imposter syndrome the worst.

unclebucknasty 11y ago
I think there's something to that. The more you learn, the more you realize you don't know. You also tend to be exposed to other well-educated people who are specialized in areas you are not.

eropple 11y ago

For me, success. I started being much more willing to believe the projection of confidence that I had learned to do in order to sell myself as capable and competent once I realized that I was coming in above the level promised by that projection in the first place. It really is "fake it 'til you make it." But in my experience that does go away, a lot, once you can really say to yourself that you've made it (even just a little).

unclebucknasty 11y ago
But, success is actually a prerequisite for imposter syndrome. It's the haunting feeling that you don't deserve that success and that you will be somehow "discovered". One thing I can relate to though is working really hard for fear of underperforming or proving to be under qualified, only to learn later that others felt I was performing exceedingly well.
- eropple 11y ago
  Success is a prerequisite, but what I was trying to say is that sustained success--what I use to validate that, no, really, I am walking my talk--can drive it away.

alexashka 11y ago

Impostor syndrome is just a specialized example of not understanding your place in the world (being insecure). What cures insecurity is a shift of priorities and worldview - from the unrealistic list of achievements you've been told you need to accomplish (the root of your insecurity syndromes), to doing your own thing, to living your own life. Of course that involves alienating everyone you rely upon for the most part. So not only do you need to be strong enough to stand on your own two feet emotionally, but financially as well. So it's baby-steps to get there, like everything else.

wallflower 11y ago

The only cure to imposter syndrome is to help others with their imposter syndrome (e.g. mentoring junior developers to blossom their confidence and skills or teaching underserved populations computational thinking). Once you get it to the next level (e.g. your imposter students mentoring/teaching the next generation), hopefully your imposter mentality will start to exponentially fade.

eplanit 11y ago

Exactly. I have a MS degree and am gratefully enjoying an ongoing, successful 25+ year career -- and have wrestled with Imposter Syndrome most every day of it.