Hi Emily! (Background: now a grad student in optics coming from undergrad in physics) I am about to start a summer internship in a few days, and even though I am excited, I'm also scared, and feel as if I'm in over my head. I have heard that this sort of "imposter syndrome" is particularly common among women in science. Have you ever experienced this, and if so, how did you deal with it? Were you nervous starting your job at the Field Museum? Thanks for all that you do. I love your videos!
Hey! Congratulations on your internship!
First, don’t let anybody make you feel as though you are somehow undeserving or unqualified for this new position, because you absolutely are both of those things. Beware of those little seeds of doubt: they grow like toxic weeds and can wreak havoc on your self-esteem.
Secondly, yes, Imposter Syndrome is absolutely a real thing and I sometimes feel like I’ve got the worst case of it in the history of ever. I could have never predicted where my life would take me and the improbability of it all does not lend itself to confidence. It doesn’t help that often times when I tell people what I do and how I got to be here (art school -> volunteering -> blogging -> YouTube show -> Field Museum, science communicator), their response is You’re So Lucky.
I don’t believe in “luck” or “chance” as much as I believe in hard work, dedication, and seizing opportunities when they present themselves. Seneca, the Roman philosopher, is attributed with saying
Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity
and I am far more inclined to attribute my own success to that principle than I am to believe that the world conspired in my favor and everything I’ve ever accomplished just happened to fall into my lap.
When I start to think my opportunities have all happened only because of luck I begin to doubt myself. I don’t push myself to learn more, be better, work harder. If I think this is all out of my control the Imposter Syndrome rears its ugly head.
Was I nervous about starting my job? Absolutely, but I had the assurance that I must be doing something right for this to come to fruition, and that’s the sort of thinking that prevents myself from being consumed with doubt.
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