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By: Samara Moore, Gradlife Ambassador

Do you frequently dismiss your achievements? Find yourself feeling extremely uncomfortable when you are recognized for your work? Do you have an underlying belief that you are not as intelligent or capable as people think that you are? Fear that you will be exposed as a fraud, who does not really belong in graduate school?

The statements that I listed all describe imposter syndrome. If you are experiencing it –you are not alone. This way of thinking is actually quite common among graduate students.

If you are struggling with imposter syndrome, I strongly encourage you to come out to our upcoming Grad Connection event, Feeling like an Imposter. Grad Connections are a great way for students to share experiences and support each other. We have a staff member from the Academic Success Centre who will be facilitating the event.

Some other helpful resources on campus are:

• The Academic Success Centre
• Graduate Counselling Services at The School of Graduate Studies
• The Health and Wellness Centre

I would like to leave you with a quote from Marianne Williamson, as it often comes to mind when I think about imposter syndrome.

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure… We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?”

One thing that I know for sure is that we all have something of value to offer. As a dear friend gently reminded me once, we do not come into our academic programs, or anything in life, as perfect, all-knowing, experts who should never make mistakes. We come into our respective programs as ourselves -curious, imperfect, and worthy of this opportunity that we have to learn.