Imposter Syndrome
A personal essay by Jaanu
I’ve written about this topic before, in an editorial letter or two- but hooray!! New thoughts on this topic and, therefore, another essay about the so-called “imposter syndrome!” You’re welcome, dear readers, you get to hear even more of my idle musings about my freshman year of college!
As I’ve reflected further on my first year of college, I have also begun to consider other periods of transition. My sister’s first year in a new medical role; my first time joining a lab; my mom’s experiences changing offices; and my brother’s numerous summer camps, from West Point to Boy’s State. Each comes with its own challenges and each can be tough for a time when you first start.
Imposter syndrome might just be the feelings of discomfort when you’re starting 
something as totally new as college is. When I started my first year, there was so much to learn and so many new things to navigate – from selecting courses and meeting new professors, mentors, and advisors to making friends in a new place. It can all be overwhelming and can make you feel like you’re not ready to navigate the new change. Imposter syndrome in particular is that feeling when you look around at everyone else who seems to be doing swimmingly in their new circumstances and feel worse about your own habits or outcomes. I think the solution might be understanding that any change will be difficult, and that it takes a lot of hard work to find success.
During my freshman year, I kept wondering: when would I feel like a college student? While I didn’t feel like an imposter in my new surroundings, I certainly felt like a mess and underqualified for my challenging new classes and independence.
A lot of college freshmen will choose to transfer schools quickly, but part of that change might be because the first semester is so difficult. I guess my message to all incoming freshmen would be: you’re not an imposter! The stress and difficulty of adjusting to your new circumstances are part of any change- and change is usually not very easy. It takes time and effort to get used to new situations, and it takes a lot of hard work to achieve your goals.
For me, hearing other people’s stories is a great source of inspiration, and, earlier this summer, I watched a YouTube video about a surgical (I believe) resident named Dr. Shaun Andersen. Dr. Andersen was documenting his first week of residency, following his graduation from medical school. He was a friendly, open narrator 
painting a clear picture of what it was like transitioning from a purely educational setting of medical school to an actual career as a resident. What I found interesting is that Dr. Andersen said on his first day of residency that he “still felt very med-school-ish.”
Everyone goes through those initial “I don’t know what I’m doing!” days. I don’t think imposter syndrome is all that unique to college. When you get to school, newbies, focus on what you’re excited about and dive in!
