How To Overcome Impostor Syndrome as a First-gen Student, According To These Hispanic and Latina Graduates

We get it; those stats are pretty discouraging. But you’re not a statistic. So we spoke with other first-gen students, a career coach, and a university counselor about what you can do to combat impostor syndrome in college and embrace the success you definitely deserve.

Kaitlyn Fikaris was the first woman in her family to graduate high school, and the first person to attend college. She failed her freshman year. “I was broke, I was overwhelmed, I struggled with motivation,” she said. “Once my GPA was below a 2.0, it just confirmed my feeling that I didn’t belong there.”

It took a while to put a name to her experience. “When I realized I was suffering from impostor syndrome, it was like a light went on in my head,” Fikaris said.

She would go on to write her senior thesis about the unique challenges faced by first-generation college students, including impostor syndrome. “This should really be a much bigger conversation.”

Cassandra Salgado, director of the Northwestern Academy, works directly with first-gen students in Chicago. She agrees that identifying impostor syndrome is the first step to overcoming it.

“But recognizing impostor syndrome can be really hard! One trick I recommend is paying close attention to your confusion cues and the thoughts that follow.”

Say you get a bad grade on an assignment, but you’re confused about the professor’s feedback. If your next thought is: “I shouldn’t be here; I don’t even understand this feedback,” then you’re dealing with impostor syndrome.

“Remind yourself that everyone feels this way sometimes, and there are practical things you can do about it,” said Salgado.

Salgado gives very specific advice, in the case of the confusing feedback: Write down exactly what you’re confused about. Make an appointment with your professor or TA. Ask questions until you get clarity. “A lot of students are afraid to look stupid. But professors are there to answer your questions; they want to.”

Salgado always tells her first-gen students that asking good questions and communicating with professors are technical skills that can be learned.

“No one exits the womb knowing how to navigate academic spaces,” she said. “Some people will pick a lot of that up unconsciously along the way, because there are folks in their lives who have done it before. Others have to be more deliberate about learning.”

She encourages students to see what they don’t know as an advantage. “You are in a unique position to do some very precise skills development. Pay attention to tactics you can use to get what you need in this new environment,” advised Salgado. “Practice them; master them: you’ll start to realize that you belong just as much as anyone else.”

One struggle that no one really talks about is the way first-gen students are torn between wanting to succeed and a fear of success.

“On the one hand, you have a lot of guilt: I have it all, compared to my family. I should just be grateful. I owe them success,” said Fikaris.

But Fikaris found it difficult to balance the burden of opportunity with the realization that success meant leaving her family behind.

“I felt very much that ‘this isn’t what my family does’ — you know? Like my self-growth would be a kind of betrayal of the people I love and our shared identity.”

Salgado points out that this combination of pressure and fear contributes to impostor syndrome. Consciously set them both aside, she said.

“Remember that family relationships change over time. That will happen whether you stay in school or not. Instead ask: Why are you going to college? What is the value of this experience to you? If you can answer that, you’ll be more motivated to keep going.”

It’s also important to understand that impostor syndrome thrives in isolation.

“The hardest part was that I had no one to talk to, at first. My mom would call to see how I was doing and I would just lie. I felt like I couldn’t complain,” said Fikaris. She found a therapist to help her cope.

Not everyone has access to a therapist, noted Jessica Johnson, a long-time social worker who became a life coach to college students this year. But it’s crucial to find someone to talk to — even better if they are a first-gen student themselves.

“It’s so powerful to realize you aren’t the only one,” said Johnson.

And these days, it’s easier than ever to find like-minded communities. Johnson recommends the facebook group Empowering First-Generation College Students for connecting with people of all ages who can offer support, solidarity, and advice.

Your university also provides a wealth of resources you should take advantage of.

“A lot of first-generation students don’t realize that their tuition money is what pays for all the ‘free’ resources on campuses, like counselors, writing centers, and student organizations,” said Johnson.

“The fact is, you’re about to spend at least four years at an institution created to build you up and prepare you for the future that you want. Make the most of the tools available to you! You may never have easy access to so many amazing resources focused on your personal development again.”