Graphic Design by Mia Mendez / The Plaid Press

By Isabel Hicks

Imposter syndrome, a common behavioral phenomenon, is characterized by self doubt regarding one’s intellect, skills, or accomplishments among high-achieving individuals.

This often leads to feelings of inadequacy and the perception of feeling like a fraud, or “imposter.” Many who suffer from imposter syndrome overwork themselves to combat these feelings of self-doubt.

In highly competitive environments that demand high academic performance, students are more susceptible to experiencing imposter syndrome as the environment fosters comparison amongst each other due to demand for excellent performance.

Particularly in a school as academically rigorous and competitive as Granada Hills Charter (GHC), imposter syndrome is more common than students realize.

“There’s a lot of tension between people sometimes,” IB student and senior Bianka Gomez said. “We’re always battling to do the best out of the whole class, and I see it reflected in my classes, especially in IB. Internally we have this kind of a hierarchy of how we feel our capabilities compare to others.”

The pressure to gain admission to a good college is a familiar struggle for many high school students.

“All my senior friends got into UC’s and various other colleges, and there’s an expectation that I need to do that too,” junior Jason Mendjargal said. “If I do poorly on a test, or get a bad grade, it feels like I’m not living up to that expectation. Because you’re not meeting these expectations, you kind of feel like you’re not allowed to be good at certain things, like you’re not allowed to feel validated by your own accomplishments. You feel like whatever you achieve is very little compared to what everybody else does.”

Students grappling with imposter syndrome often feel isolated because they view it as a problem that exists only within themselves.

“Often when I’m in the same situation as other people, who might be handling it better than me, I think to myself that I should just stay quiet instead of complaining about it,” Gomez said.

Succumbing to this isolation can be detrimental. It perpetuates a culture of silence where students do not seek support or share their struggles.

This isolation also magnifies their internal battle which can lead to further anxiety and self-doubt. This silence also reinforces the misconception that everyone else is sailing through life.

Therefore it is crucial to break the isolation and recognize that seeking assistance and sharing experiences can lead to a community where students work collectively.

Opening up about your struggles can initiate a very rewarding conversation about imposter syndrome and open our eyes to how many people actually feel the same way we do. You might discover that the person you compare yourself to actually feels the same way as you.

It is also important to remind yourself that it was your own hard work that got you to where you are today.

If there are positions that you feel you aren’t worthy of, you have to remember that you were the one who worked hard for them and deserve them.

“You belong in these spaces because at the end of the day, you wouldn’t be in them in the first place if you weren’t good enough for them,” senior Lauren Welsh said. “Just being there is enough of a reason to deserve it.”