I’m a first-generation student, which means my family and I have navigated my college experience through word of mouth, friends of friends, and the occasional ancient Reddit post. It was getting a little concerning how much time I was spending on Reddit pages about FSU, college, and applying to college, absorbing any information I could.
These sources could only do so much, though, and I started to feel out of place. During my college orientation and first year at FSU, my peers seemed to be doing so much more than I was. I also attended FSU’s Presidential Scholar weekend, where I heard other students talk about the internships they completed in high school, the 45 college credits they earned before even setting foot on their college campus, and their connections to the bigwigs at age 16.
I felt like I didn’t belong — I mean, why was I even invited in the first place?
Imposter syndrome is a general term, coined by Pauline Rode Clance and Suzanne Imes in 1978, for the fear of feeling like a fraud or not belonging where you are now. The feeling is all too common amongst first-generation students, especially for those of us who feel like we need to prove something by being the first in our families to attend a university.
What is there to do about it, then? Well, I’ve just finished my sophomore year at FSU, and will, hopefully, act as your big sister helping you through your own imposter syndrome. Here’s what I did to combat it, and to feel like I finally belonged where I am:
Remind yourself that you made it
If you’re anything like me, the college admissions cycle may have numbed your brain enough to make you forget just how prestigious the colleges you got accepted to are. FSU’s acceptance rate has been around 24% in the past years, and other Florida colleges are close to that number, as well! UF’s acceptance rate is also around 24%, as I was accepted there as well.
I was surrounded by people who had achieved the same great feat as I, with some high school friends who were even offered admission into Ivy League schools. You accomplished a fantastic thing just by being accepted to your college; don’t ever forget that.
Start a journal
I know everyone is tired of hearing the advice that they need to start journaling, and I am too. That’s why I’m not suggesting you start this big journaling project with a cute notebook, stickers, and the best handwriting on this green Earth.
Just start writing; pick up any old notebook, maybe even that half-used notebook from chemistry class, and write down every single time you feel like you don’t belong or like you’re a fraud.
This doesn’t even have to be in-depth every single time. You can simply write I don’t feel like I belong here right now, and that’s good enough. I’d start to notice when I felt those emotions and connected them with “triggers” that activated my imposter syndrome.
Don’t fall behind
Nothing fuels imposter syndrome more than feeling like you’re bad at the one thing you’re “supposed” to be doing in college. Keep track of your classes and the assignments you need to do for them, so you’re never behind.
Use as many resources as you need to for this, too. I recommend Canvas extensions like Better Canvas, which makes your Canvas more aesthetic and tracks your GPA, and Tasks for Canvas, which keeps track of weekly or monthly due dates for your courses. My roommate makes an Excel spreadsheet before every semester that lists every single one of her assignments for her to check off. Use anything that could help you!
Find your community
One of the most inaccurate pieces of advice I’ve ever heard given to incoming freshmen is “your freshman friend group will break by the end of your first semester.” When I first came to FSU, I had my three main friends who I loved with all my heart. By my second semester, we’d grown a little distant, all trying new friends and groups.
Guess where we all ended up by the end of our third semester? Back together, and stronger than ever. What I mean is that you’ll find your community in college eventually, no matter how alone you feel before or in between friend groups. These people will be your ride-or-dies and will get you through literally anything.
The process through imposter syndrome won’t be quick or easy. It’s going to take a while, and you have to stick with what works for you. Try some of the things that worked for me and add a few that you try along your own journey, and you’ll get through this awful feeling.
It took me until the end of my sophomore year to get through the main parts of my imposter syndrome, but I still feel it in certain parts of my life. Especially for us first-generation-ers, it gets incredibly hard in college. You got this, girl!
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