Dealing <- My Imposter Syndrome

I was recently self-diagnosed as an Imposter. You see this whole process began when I read this article about Imposter Syndrome by that napkin-money guy at the NYTimes: http://nyti.ms/1kHZ3v1.

Then I attended a lecture about the condition at Columbia U and noticed the following symptoms:

I frequently think I’m seen as more capable and sharp than I actually am

I’m a double minority

Sometimes I feel anxious about those things

I should either run for political office or do something about my discovery.

So I’m going to begin by reflecting on what’s led to my current realm of ‘accomplishments’. To be sure, I’ve done what every medical professional fears and based my diagnosis on a few online articles read by my severely untrained eye for psychological conditions.

In any case, this should be a helpful exercise for navigating the line between low self-esteem and humility.

In the next post of this series, I’ll be reflecting on those carefully tucked away college and graduate school admissions essays. Looking back on efforts to simultaneously be humble and boast may be a good starter for understanding the inner Imposter.