Remember – The light is still on

by Maribel Hernández, B.S.

Graduate Student – Addiction Neuroscience

Before joining a PhD program you hear that the work is hard, that finding a great mentor is essential, and that you have to be tenacious and resilient, which are all very important and undeniably true; however, you are never truly prepared for the other aspect, which is navigating academia. During your PhD, there are several moments that challenge you and sometimes you start to think “why am I even here?” Imposter syndrome is no stranger to PhD students. Self-doubt strikes when you least expect it and promotes negative emotions and feelings in fields that promote competition.

Imposter syndrome is especially prevalent among students who are first-generation and/or underrepresented minorities, which already face many unique challenges in academic settings. In my experience as a first-generation Latina I found it difficult to navigate many of aspects of my STEM program and even more so because I had not made sense of them. When I tried to talk to my family, I ended up explaining what a PI is, what my research is (for too long), and why I am pursuing this degree only for them to say, “Mija, yo no se pero échale ganas.” While I love them and it’s always nice to hear your family encourage you to keep at it and work hard, that’s sometimes not enough. Feeling like you don’t belong somewhere or that you aren’t good enough doesn’t just go away. Therefore, it’s important to find and talk to someone who can help you through the imposter syndrome; you are not alone in this experience. Eventually I found a phenomenal support system made up of students who have similar experiences outside of my field. Talking with students who can empathize with you helps because now it is not just you, but y’all. A group slowly navigating experiences together is far less scary than a single person. Also, having students in different majors can help you step away from the immediate and look at the bigger picture. Sometimes, we get tunnel vision because of our surroundings, but acknowledging and talking through the negative feelings allows us to take a step back. While this is not the only way that can help you navigate these challenges, finding a support system close to you is a definite must.

Overcoming imposter syndrome is possible. While it may be a slow process, there are resources, like the ones listed below, outlining a few things that can help. Reflecting and reminding yourself of a few things can be helpful as well:

Remember, you did and are still doing the work! You work hard! You are in the lab and taking the same courses, so frequently reminding yourself that you are deserving is extremely important. Ultimately, you fought for your seat at the table and you are there because of how hard-working, intelligent, and motivated you are.

Remember, there is an end goal that you set out to accomplish. Thinking back to why you started and revisiting all of your goals helps you reset. Sometimes I revisit mine and then set deadlines for smaller goals when I feel overwhelmed, which has made things more manageable. It also allows me to push through because I know that I have something I am still working towards.

Remember to celebrate all of your successes. Everything you have accomplished is important. When the experiment finally works, celebrate! When you get an A on an exam, celebrate! These small victories help remind us that we are capable.

Lastly, remember that you are always growing as an academic. There are so many things that can change and improve throughout your years as a graduate student. This can happen through practice, by talking with mentors and other academics, by presenting at conferences, etc. This past year I went to the Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) meeting in Atlanta, Georgia where I was able to attend their annual graduation ceremony for the 2019 SREB doctoral scholars. One of the SREB Scholar graduates quoted her mom, “Keep it moving. Time is going to pass whether you get your degree or not, so keep it moving and get your Ph.D.” Use this quote to remember to focus on you and your path. You are exactly where you are supposed to be because you made it happen. Keep going.

Resources:

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