NCFDD - Week 3: Imposter Syndrome: How to Recognize it, Overcome It and Realize Your Academic Goals

07-03-2018 12:00 PM

If you’re like me or most people I know, the first time you heard the term “Imposter Syndrome,” you experienced an immediate sense of relief that someone FINALLY got you!

Do you ever feel you don’t belong?
Do you experience a constant fear of being found out?
Do you wonder if others assume your success is not deserved?
Do you ever wonder why you even bother with research and writing because you’re convinced there’s no way your manuscript will be accepted?

If any of this resonates, you are not alone! Imposter syndrome is a psychological construct that manifests as a negative story -- on repeat. Sometimes this story provides us motivation to grit our teeth a little tighter and forge ahead with greater determination. Most often, though, the story brings us down and takes a toll on our health, wellness, and productivity. While Imposter Syndrome shows up for everyone everywhere, it’s particularly salient in academic spaces and for those of us who don’t fit into the typical image of a graduate student or professor in the ivory tower.

In this experiential multi-week course, we will explore imposter syndrome and work toward managing its relationship to making progress on our career goals.

In week 3, we’ll discuss different manifestations of imposter syndrome at various stages of our careers (spoiler alert: it doesn’t go away as we achieve more success!). We’ll also talk through how imposter syndrome shows up differently in our various work and life roles (e.g., teacher, advisor, and mentor). We’ll conclude with discussing ways to understand imposter syndrome as it surfaces in our lives and in the lives of others.

Online - Access via free membership with iastate.edu email

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