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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UMKC chapter.

Confidence is defined and displayed in many different ways. It is believing in yourself and your abilities as an individual.  This is such an important trait that we tend to overlook the older we get, especially in college. Growing up, we are seldom told to be confident in ourselves and why it is important to do so. We need to continue discussing about the importance of confidence because it contributes to our overall well-being.

As college students, we are constantly thrown new challenges on a daily basis, and one way to help us get through them is to improve our self-confidence. Now I’m not telling you that confidence is going to be your cure for college stress, but it will prove to be beneficial. The more you believe in yourself and your abilities, the more you will realize that you can do it.

 

Am I writing this article because I am 100 percent confident? No, but rather the opposite.  I’m writing this because I’m always looking for more ways to improve and help develop my own confidence. Confidence is a quality that has made a positive change in my life and I want it to do the same for you. With confidence,  you develop an assurance in yourself which can lead to greater success in your life.

Building your confidence takes time but, like everything in life, you can accomplish anything with some practice. Here are some easy tips to help build your confidence.

  1. Stand tall and walk with a purpose. This is already going to trick your subconscious into thinking that you do know where you’re going and what you are doing, even if you don’t.

  2. Realize that it’s okay that you’re not perfect. No one is. All that we want for you is to believe in your own abilities even when you know they aren’t perfect.

  3. Don’t be afraid to dress up a bit. I know that on days where I’m not feeling as confident, when I have an exam, or even when I am feeling sick I will dress up a little bit more than I normally would and I always feel more confident in myself.

  4. Remember to smile. Yes, we are all stressed college students with a lot on our minds, but remember to smile and realize that you’ve got this.

I have tried all of these tips, and I can tell you that they work! Smiling is the tip that really made the most difference in my life because it gives me the self-assurance that I need to have a successful and productive day. Now confidence doesn’t develop overnight, but working on these little steps over time can help give you a boost.

 

Emily is a writer for Her Campus UMKC. She is a senior currently studying environmental sciences and environmental sustainability, but loves writing creative content for different topics in life. She also has a podcast called "From Teens to Twenties" which you can find on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. In her free time she enjoys volunteering, studying at coffee shops, and thrifting like nobody's business.
Krit graduated with English and Chemistry degrees from UMKC. As the President and founder of UMKC’s chapter, she hopes HC UMKC will continue to create content that inspires students. Some of her favorite things include coffee and writing.