Did you ever felt like you discoursing up in the class was stressful? Did you ever felt like you are the dumbest in the class because you didn't answer the question? Did you ever felt terrible when other students started to do great in a particular area? Well, This means you are having a Imposter Syndrome. Never Heard of it? Let us take a concise glance at it!
As you can see in the top image if you type Imposter Syndrome in google, that is what you see and the explanation of it. However, I just want to make some cases about it. This syndrome was in peak stage for me, especially when I was in India, preparing hard to perceive IIT, after my 12th grade. Even after preparing for it, I felt unsatisfied. You might think I'm crazy enough to leave the opportunity in India and study in the USA. Well, Its actually a personal decision I made against all the necessary inadequacy. Parenting was also a major issue for a few students, where they had to push them a lot harder in pursuing a career that is in Demand, instead of their dream career. There is this opinion, the more you spend, the better education you get. This actually works in most of the countries. I was lucky enough that I was able to pursue my career in personal interest. If you pursue a career in Vogue, that fetches you oblivion except for a job with a high salary but no satisfaction. Don't you think this is an issue of unemployment? Why not use intellect to predict something more in Agriculture, Food, Financing, other industries especially in countries like India, where they have tons of people graduating with CS Major. That is not a topic here. Nevertheless, you should definitely acknowledge this for future generations.
There were times where I felt depressed, pessimistic, and had major issues, because of the comparison that is being done especially in the Few Education Systems. We were taught to be the best of the best of the best and soon etc., So If you are one of the people who feel similar to me, Hang on! I totally get it. What do you think we should do except to just adjust with it. Fighting for non-revealing the grades isn't going to affect us much, because either way, our parent's generations are prone to look at grades rather than our skillset and talent. Not to generalize, but this is a serious issue.
I studied really hard to get into IIT (Indian Institute of Technology), and I never got in. Yet, my complex was so bad enough that drive me to leave it and pursue something simpler, because of the fact that they know more than me. Later, when I joined Seton Hall University, NJ in 2016, I was a single major in Computer Science. I was the first person in my family to start my education in Foreign. Consequently, I took Math classes to satisfy the requirements for Computer Science Major, then I was chosen by one of math professor with the immense knowledge I had in Math, I was designated as Math Tutor. Then I felt, I could do something more than being just Computer Science Major, So I switched to double major in Computer Science and Mathematics. Math being the easiest one for me, I was able to perform really well in class. This eventually gave me confidence in my career that I can actually start to feel proud of what I am learning and what I know. What does this experience mean to you? Professors come to your rescue, but it's just that you have to expose your skills a few times.
WHAT TO DO IF YOU HAVE THIS SYNDROME:
Here are some tips or suggestions that I wish I knew this before starting and during my entire education:
First, we need to realize that, you are not alone in this world. "Don't Be Ashamed" to ask something up in the class. "No one is going to judge you". If they actually judge you, It's a bad gesture on their side. Trust me! You are the one who is going to get a job. So your talent implies for a company and not what others estimate you.
Secondly, there are sparse moments, where I felt I was dumbest ever. But that's not a case in reality. There are all sorts of people around you. "Know the difference between reality and feelings". When you learn something new, it's obviously known that you are new to it, you are not going to be a PRO at it until you succeed to operate it as OLD.
Thirdly, if you are the first person in some kind of field to achieve it or start with, Never hesitate to begin it. For example, my case was where not most of the middle-class people from India come to the USA for a bachelor's, for the fact it's expensive doing an undergraduate degree in the USA. Let me tell you, the first day at my college in the USA was an Illusion for me. It was completely different than what I expected. The accent is completely different from what I was taught in my school. So don't be afraid to start your first step, it is a change in your life.
Fourth, "you have to learn to be positive always". Honestly, this is something I didn't discover throughout my education. I actually learned it through my friends, relatives, and professors.
Seldom, you need to seek HELP. I'm pretty sure everyone at some period needs any help. Pausing to ask for something is going to cost you a lot more than what you thought.
Furthermore, I felt comparing ourselves with others especially in terms of knowledge is something you should leave behind! "YOU ARE WHAT YOU ARE!" Doesn't matter whether you are super skilled or under-skilled. You are going to be a master of your life.
Last but not least, The Worst Thing I ever did in my education is, not "Rewarding my self for achieving". When you grow up, especially when you are in college, no one observes your success except you. You don't receive appreciation often for everything you achieve. If you got people who appreciate you for what you do! you are lucky. So Do appreciate yourself in achieving your goals be it short or long.
Helping others: The syndrome eventually left me, when I started to Tutor and work on projects with others, as they started to interact and ask me questions about the stuff I know and they don't know about. When people started to ask questions based on the knowledge I have and the same knowledge they need help in can cure you a lot from this complex. I felt self-studying and freedom in learning are other better ways to overcome this Syndrome. Especially talking to people you know, explaining to them what you feel is the best way to express your thoughts and put them in the right way. The reason why I am writing this experience is due to the fact that Inferiority complex every student's face when someone above them in class answers a teacher question, the student believes they know more than us, thus degrading their own knowledge and not acknowledging the facts that they reached that point and learned so hard.
Conclusively, Start talking more about the knowledge you know, write blogs, articles. If you are confident enough to face the camera, make YouTube videos to educate people about the stuff you learned in high school or college. It's the best way to lose the syndrome and be active. Sometimes, negativity pushes the syndrome to the worst level you couldn't imagine, however you got to keep pushing yourself to be positive and express your thoughts either be it small or big. I feel it's important for me to share my experience and tips so that you develop something that leads to your mental happiness.