As an incoming freshmen, the academic rigor of college was extremely daunting. Despite feeling that my high school prepared me well for college, I was nervous that I would not meet the standards set by Denison. Honestly, there was no logical reason for me to feel this way, yet the fear ate me up inside until I became a ball of anxiety. As my classes began, I soon noticed that I constantly compared myself to other students. I lost confidence in my academic abilities and believed that I wasn’t smart enough to be in my classes.
This feeling, also known as Imposter Syndrome, is prevalent in college students and entails feelings of self-doubt and self-incompetence. In a sense, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. You might be thinking, duh, of course, you’re not going to do well if you tell yourself that you’re not smart enough, and that is exactly what I would like to tell my 6-week-ago-self.
I have talked to my friends from back home and here at Denison and have noticed that Imposter Syndrome is prevalent among freshmen. If you, too, are struggling, remember that you earned your spot here on campus, and you are smart enough for any class offered here. You have tricked yourself into believing that you are unintelligent in comparison to your classmates. This, however, means that you can do exactly the opposite! If you start telling yourself that you are a knowledgeable, astute, well-informed student with a bright future eventually, you will begin to believe yourself.
However, if you are struggling in a class, it is perfectly acceptable to ask for help. There are so many resources available to us as students, and as someone who has taken advantage of them, I can say that they were a huge help. But, it is also inevitable that you will make mistakes. Obviously, everyone wants to ace all of their assignments, but the reality is that is not possible. The good news about failure is that it is also a learning experience. You can learn what study habits work best, how to best take notes, and what concepts you need to spend the most time reviewing if you are not the first time. Ultimately, you will become a better student.
If you remember one thing from this article, I want it to be that you are an exceptional, talented student who wholeheartedly deserves to be here at Denison.