How to navigate shame and imposter syndrome in the academy – Part II: 4 Strategies

How to navigate shame and imposter syndrome in the academy – Part II: 4 Strategies

By Kimine Mayuzumi & Riyad A. Shahjahan Worthy now. Not if. Not when. We are worthy of love and belonging now. Right this minute. As is.  – Brene Brown In part I, we discussed how shame and imposter syndrome manifest in the academy. If you haven’t, please read it first. In part II, here we will share four strategies for navigating shame and imposter syndrome. 1. Get in touch with your shaming self First, we…

How to navigate shame and imposter syndrome in the academy- Part I

How to navigate shame and imposter syndrome in the academy- Part I

By Kimine Mayuzumi & Riyad A. Shahjahan Do you feel you’re not “enough” or “don’t belong” in the academy? Feel lost and wonder why you are in the academy? Do you have fear to speak ‘truth to power’? If so, you’re not alone! Through our workshops, coaching experiences, and personal interactions for the past few years, we have encountered over 800 people including faculty, postdocs, and graduate students who resoundingly say “YES!” to the above questions. Many…

What imposter feelings taught me about my strength:  A graduate student’s story on slowing down

What imposter feelings taught me about my strength: A graduate student’s story on slowing down

By Roilui Sin Feeling like an imposter is not new to me as a graduate student. I have felt it since childhood. I am the youngest of two, my parents had emigrated from China in the early 70s – first to Brazil and then settling in Canada in 1985 when I was a toddler. Growing up, I felt like an outsider, needing to fit in and protect myself from being revealed as a “phony” Canadian.…