The PhD Imposter Syndrome
Mar 15, 2024I post this as a confession, a reckoning, and an encouragement to other PhD students. I often feel overwhelmed, scared and dumb! I stumble my words, I get theorists mixed up and I sit open mouthed in awe of some of my colleagues and my supervisors.
I question myself, "Am I intelligent enough to do this?"
Imposter syndrome loves to hijack my thinking...but I love to vanish him more!
Apart from the following social media post I made almost two years ago BEFORE I enrolled in a PhD, I use fact checking and re-storying to send Mr Imposter Syndrome packing.
Fact checking:
- Was my application accepted by Charles Darwin University? Yes
- Was I awarded the Domestic Excellence Scholar Scholarship? Yes
- Do I think the people who awarded me entry to the PhD programs and my supervisors are dummies? Hell no! I have the best.
- Is the overwhelm of reading, writing, thinking, sorting, rabbit holing, fear, etc., common of other PhD students? Absolutely.
Re-storying:
I feel settled when I talk with other PhD students because they also report similar issues and feelings. Next I am aware of Mr Imposter Syndrome breathing his bad breath into my face I'll remind him that Professor Tara Brabazon thinks I'm brilliant. She is an extremely good assessor and she's the one who signed off my application. So mate, disappear!
Social media post:
👩🏼🎓 PhD candidate: social and cultural resistance to the status quo.
