College is often seen as a reset button, a new start. A place that grants you the chance to rebrand into the ideal version of yourself. However, when you’re actively trying to rebrand yourself in college, imposter syndrome may kick in, leaving you feeling like you’re playing pretend, trying to be someone you’re not.
Imposter syndrome could be defined as the feeling that you don’t really belong or that your accomplishments are undeserved, even when you’ve clearly earned them. It’s easy to get swallowed by thoughts of not being good enough or constantly comparing your accomplishments to others’. You might think, everyone here is smarter than me, or I don’t deserve to be in the same place as these other people. These thoughts are incredibly common, especially in environments where everyone is high-achieving and figuring things out at the same time.
In college, many students aren’t just having to adjust academically, they’re actively having their identities being reshaped. Walking into college you get the chance to expand and explore your image, whether that is making riskier fashion choices, outwardly projecting more confidence, trying new things, or even changing old habits. While this growth is healthy, it can also feel fake at first. When you start acting differently than you used to, you may first start to feel inauthentic and uncomfortable.
Comparison culture only makes this worse. Between social media and everyday conversations, it can seem like everyone else is effortlessly thriving, landing internships, balancing academics, and maintaining perfect social lives. However, you don’t see the struggles and doubts of others, only your own. This sometimes makes people further question their place, comparing themselves to others, convinced they are the only person struggling.
It also doesn’t help that so many people today are deeply concerned with how others perceive them. I often see girls online talk about being afraid to wear a certain item out in public because of what someone might think. I once saw a TikTok of a girl contemplating whether she should wear a headband out because she thought someone would call her out for not being a “usual headband wearer”.
While the video wasn’t entirely serious, it does shine light on the truth that people are scared to try something new or express themselves differently at the risk of being judged. That fear of how others perceive us only reinforces imposter syndrome, making it harder to grow into new versions of ourselves.
Overcoming Imposter syndrome doesn’t mean you must eliminate your doubts entirely and feel completely self-assured. It means recognizing those thoughts without letting them own you. Feeling like you don’t belong does not mean you don’t. You’ve earned your place, your confidence just hasn’t caught up to that fact yet. Also remember, being authentic doesn’t mean staying the same forever, you are allowed to evolve and try new things. Stepping into an unfamiliar role doesn’t make you fake, it just means you’re growing. Often, the version of yourself that feels “real” is just the one you’re most used to.
Imposter syndrome is incredibly common, you are not alone. Chances are, a lot of people around you and even people you admire have felt the same way. Remember to also internalize and give yourself credit for your wins. Instead of saying, “I just got lucky,” acknowledge the effort you put in. You studied, you showed up, and you took risks.
College isn’t about being perfect or fully confident all the time. It’s about experimenting, learning, and becoming. If rebranding yourself sometimes makes you feel like an imposter, that doesn’t mean you’re doing it wrong. Keep looking ahead and don’t be afraid to try new things because it doesn’t fit your mold. People are far too complex to confine themselves to a single box. Identity isn’t fixed, it’s shaped by experiences, environments, mistakes, and growth over time. You can be driven and uncertain, confident and still learning, serious in one space and completely different in another.