Today, I want to write about something called Imposter syndrome, which is quite common among new PhD students. The students tend to believe that they are not smart enough or too stupid to do a PhD. All the previous degrees that are bestowed upon them, are some kind of mistake, or they are just wrongly admitted to the institution for the degree. They live in an internalized fear that someone will find out the same and they will be identified as fraud. Even though the students have accomplished a lot, they find it very difficult to acknowledge that thing.
How does it affect? The students tend to struggle with their basic course work or concepts: the things they had good grasp and excellency in the past. It often results in more anxiety, low self-esteem, over preparation or procrastination of work.
• It is better to take a break from social media, or some websites, where people are constantly bragging about their achievements.
• Talking with friends/colleagues those who might be undergoing with the same kind of notions.
• Its better to stop thinking about what others might think. As of human tendency, we tend to believe that we are in the lime light. But, in reality everyone is busy with their own life. Nobody is going to think about what others have achieved or not all the time.
Hope you find this article helpful.
Thank You.
