Welcome to my new blog posting site! If you recall, I attempted to create a workout blog in which I chatted about the difficulties (but also benefits) of making yourself get into a workout routine. In addition, I also reviewed several different workout types. That blog is still alive and I do plan on occasionally posting there still. However, I have turned my attention elsewhere and thought it would be nice to have a blog where I just can write about anything and everything that I feel like, hence the title of this blog post: Where The Day Takes Me.
For my very first blog post, I thought it would be nice to chat about the subject of impostor syndrome. This is something that I have struggled greatly with, and if often quite common among female scientists. As one of my good friends points out though, it can also occur among males as well.
Impostor syndrome is essentially defined as the feeling of not being good enough, even though you actually are. You tend to feel that you don't deserve to be where you are. People who experience this are unable to internalize their accomplishments and often just believe that shear luck is doing all the work. That at any moment, someone will call you out on it and your cover will be blown.
I can not tell you how many times I have felt this way, that I am in graduate school not by my own accord but by shear luck. This often gets worse after something negative happens and reinforces my thoughts of not being good enough. For example, I learned last week that a paper I had submitted for publication was rejected. I was upset and really did not believe I had it in me to continue pursing my degree. However, thanks to encouraging words from my adviser, I was able to read through the comments again (on the third round) and see that there was encouragement from the editor. There was encouragement to resubmit with a new title and new focus. My idea was good and worthwhile, but it needed some tightening up to be better. In all the cases where I haven't felt like I deserved to be where I was, I chatted with my adviser or other co-workers, and I was able to find encouragement through them that I did belong and did deserve to be where I was. Now, I'm not saying that the feelings ever completely disappeared. But, what I am saying is that it is possible to tame those feelings and at the very least deal with them head on.
Impostor syndrome is quite common, so remember that if you ever feel this way, you are certainly not alone. It can be difficult to deal with sometimes, but below are some tips that have really helped me to not let it completely control my life.
1. Find an encouraging adviser
2. Talk about it to other co-workers (undoubtedly there is someone in your workplace who feels the exact same way)
3. When given praise for your work, don't just brush it off - learn to say "Thank You"
4. Don't be afraid to celebrate your accomplishments - go out to dinner or treat yourself to a sweet
Til' Next Time!
Emma K.
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