Samira Warsame is a passionate nursing student dedicated to understanding how public health initiatives can support communities. She aims to empower individuals with the tools and information they need to lead healthier lives. On her days off, she enjoys baking any recipe she sees on TikTok.
Have you ever found yourself questioning your achievements, despite all the hard work you’ve put in? You’re not alone. Many of us face these feelings, which is commonly known as imposter syndrome. As a nursing student, I know that feeling all too well. There were times I wondered if I truly belonged in such a challenging field. Was I skilled enough to make a difference? Every task, whether it was patient care or giving a report, felt like a moment where I could fall short. Read on to find out more about my own experience with imposter syndrome, how I tackled it and ways to help you overcome it, too!
The different faces of imposter syndrome
Imposter syndrome can appear in different forms, like “The Perfectionist” and “The Expert.” The Perfectionist feels their work must be flawless. This can lead to burnout from constantly redoing tasks. The Expert, on the other hand, believes they should know everything and often seek endless qualifications to “prove” their worth. These personas can lead to self-doubt, anxiety and burnout.
I noticed how much this affected my own mental health, academic performance, and well-being. The pressure to prove myself left me downplaying my successes and rarely acknowledging the hard work that brought me there.
My experience
As a first-generation university student, the pressure to succeed felt even more intense. During my second-year clinical rotations in postpartum care, I vividly remember the uncertainty I felt in myself. Despite knowing how to assess a newborn’s vital signs, I second-guessed myself at every turn. Only after successfully completing the task and receiving positive feedback from my instructor did I realize that my fear of making a mistake came more from self-doubt than any lack of ability. That moment opened my eyes to how imposter syndrome was affecting my confidence in situations where I was more than capable.
How I overcame imposter syndrome
There are two key areas that helped me overcome these feelings:
Self-reflection: One of the first things I did was write down my achievements. This helped me shift my focus from self-doubt to recognizing my hard-earned successes!
Opening up: I learned the value of opening up to friends, peers, and mentors. Many of them had gone through similar struggles, which made me feel supported and helped me gain perspective on my feelings.
If you’ve been feeling a bit of imposter syndrome lately and are looking for more support, here are some of the ways York’s services can help you!
- Student Counselling Health & Well-being (SCHW): York offers free mental health services. Their counselors can help you navigate self-doubt and anxiety and develop clarity and confidence.
- Ask a Nurse: For health-related questions, York’s Ask a Nurse program offers personalized guidance and support. I highly recommend using it, as the nurses can provide valuable resources and services based on your specific needs.
- Workshops: Check out workshops from Learning Skills Services that focus on building confidence, managing stress and achieving academic success. These sessions provide practical tools and strategies that helped me work through imposter syndrome and improve my well-being.
For more stress-specific workshops, you can explore Learning Skills Services' Managing Academic Stress workshop and York's Leadership Skills Development workshops.
Remember: these feelings do not define who you are. With support and resources, you can fully embrace your academic journey and overcome imposter syndrome!