By Aryahi Tiwari, Stentorian Staff Writer
NCSSM is known for its academic excellence, rigorous coursework, and below-average housing facilities. A rather unknown fact to the public, but commonly discussed among students is the high insecurity and mental pressures students commonly face. One of which is the Imposter Syndrome. The National Library of Medicine in the 2023 article Imposter Phenomenon defines the Imposter Syndrome as “a behavioral health phenomenon described as self-doubt of intellect, skills, or accomplishments among high-achieving individuals.” Beyond this definition, the Imposter Syndrome is also commonly referred to as the Fraud Syndrome, drawing from the aspect of individuals being unable to internalize their own success and living in fear of their falsely advertised achievements being exposed.
The effects of Imposter Syndrome, better known as the Imposter Cycle, can be observed through two broad categories of NCSSM students’ work: those who over-prepare excessively to validate their abilities and those who procrastinate out of fear of failure. This cycle draws from attributes such as perfectionism, Atychiphobia, Intellectual self-doubt, and low self-esteem.
NCSSM students are often dissatisfied with their work, causing them to procrastinate and piece together an assignment that does not represent their abilities or spend much more time than necessary on an assignment. Their relentless pursuit of excellence causes them to be unappreciative of their own achievements. Many students express dissatisfaction with what are widely considered high grades due to unrealistic expectations set by themselves or family members.
Imposter Syndrome is closely linked with mental health issues such as Anxiety, Depression, low self-esteem, and burnout. NCSSM may be one of the few schools in the world where teachers must set maximum word counts and time limits on assignments—a practice designed to prevent students from overworking themselves. It is necessary for students to not fall into the perils of the Imposter Syndrome to prevent mental health problems, cheating, and burning out.
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