You are not the imposter- how to make imposter syndrome a thing of the past as a premed.
- Cathleen Rabideau
- Aug 10, 2024
- 5 min read
Written by: Cathleen Rabideau
Position, Member Since: Outreach Director, Joined Fall 2021
Major & Track: Health Science, pre-med
Current Year: 3rd Year
It always starts at different times for people, that feeling that you don’t measure up to your peers, that you will never be good enough. I think it was my freshman year that imposter syndrome first started sinking its sharp claws into my back. At first it’s slow, you barely notice the feelings of inadequacy, but then all of a sudden it's there and feels like it's never going away. You have this monster following you and it's omnipresent, ruling every decision and relationship you make. I’m here to tell you that while it might not ever go away, there are ways to change its presence from feeling like a scary monster creeping in the dark to just another love bug flying around Gainesville, annoying but generally harmless.
Participate in things that you enjoy, not just things that look good on your resume.
The worst part of imposter syndrome is arguably the feeling that no matter what you do, it will never be enough. Based on my own experiences after almost three years as a premed, and talking with medical students and doctors, this feeling unfortunately does not go away. However, you can minimize its impact on your life. Pick extracurricular activities that are interesting to you, that you are excited to participate in. Do not pick extracurriculars that you dread all for a line on a resume. If you feel fulfilled by participating in these activities and put effort into creating a schedule that you enjoy, instead of dread, then that feeling of not doing enough will eventually feel smaller, less important. And an added bonus, medical schools can tell when you are involved in things you like. Your passion for your endeavors will shine on your application compared to your boredom for activities you do not care about making your application dull. You don't have to be miserable in college, graduate school, or your career. Find things you love, enjoy the way you spend your time and the beast that is imposter syndrome will eventually stop roaring so loudly.
You are NOT alone.
I can guarantee that you are not the only one struggling, not in your classes, not in your friend group, you probably aren’t even the only one struggling in the Opus line waiting on coffee. STEM classes in particular are often made to make you feel weighed down by the competition. They are designed based on curves, no longer can you rely on yourself but your grade becomes a competition with you peers to be in the top 15% of the class. You are not the only victim of this system. Use this fact to your advantage. Do not be afraid to reach out to the people you surround yourself with for support. It is more than likely that they can relate to a good portion of your struggles and also need a friend to lean on. There is so much power in finding a community that you can vent with and bounce feelings off of. These conversations are important to reassure you that your feelings are valid and normal and to empower you to not let them weigh you down. It is often hard to see greatness in yourself, but if you surround yourself with the right kind of people, they will bring this greatness out of you. Building a community also goes to show no one is immune to the feelings associated with imposter syndrome, likely not even the smartest person you know.
There is power in numbers.
What I just said about finding a community is no joke. Surrounding yourself with genuine people who care about your success and also your well being is truly the key to making imposter syndrome less of a battle. People often make light of being a woman in STEM, but it can be genuinely difficult at times. Not only do you deal with the weight of feeling like an imposter, like you don’t belong, and like you aren’t doing enough, but you also have to deal with society’s expectations for you as a woman. If you’ve seen the Barbie movie, you know what expectations I am talking about. A man will never have to plan his education and career around having a family, or be thought of as less than because they want to pursue a higher degree. These added pressures placed on women in a STEM field make it that much harder to reach the light at the end of the tunnel. However, something I have found that helps combat this is to surround yourself with strong women who are doing the same thing as you. There are so many organizations on campus that promote this, AMWA being one of the best. If you are reading this and already a member or thinking of becoming one, take this as a sign to be more involved. Being a woman in STEM is no laughing matter, but finding a group of other strong women to surround yourself with lightens the load.
Take a regular inventory and enjoy the now.
No, I don't mean take an inventory of everything in your fridge. To rise victorious in the battle with imposter syndrome, it is essential to regularly take stock of the things in your life. This includes the big and the small, the family and friends, your classes and involvements, anything and everything that is currently a part of your life. Do your best to get rid of the things that weigh you down. While unfortunately you cannot get rid of Orgo 2, you can try to distance yourself from a friend who is constantly comparing themselves form you or leave a research lab that doesn't fit your needs. Appreciate exactly how much work you are putting in and how busy you are, you are succeeding! I am begging you to do your best to not make your college experience miserable for the sake of getting into medical school. Realize how far you have come and all the small battles you have won, and genuinely allow yourself to take pride in your accomplishments. Afterall many people don't make it to where you are. In realizing this, also take the time to enjoy where you are. College is such a unique experience and I implore you to enjoy as much of it as possible. Find time to sit in plaza and watch the squirrels or bask in the sun while watching for the Reitz pond otter. It sounds cliche but I want you to enjoy the little moments and soak them in. Instead of dreading the walk to class because it's just one more thing to take up your time, find calmness in the breeze through the spanish moss and happiness in the reflection of the sun on windows. Taking the time to enjoy where you are and appreciate how far you have come will give imposter syndrome less and less power over you.
Imposter syndrome is not fun, but luckily it is something many, many people deal with. Coming to terms with your struggles and finding the right communities and organizations is key to coping with the pest that is imposter syndrome. Enjoy the here and now, find friends that fill your cup, and participate in activities you find meaning in. If you start working on all of this, soon imposter syndrome will seem like a thing of the past.
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