You are officially an undergraduate Law student, you should be excited; but instead of celebrating this achievement, you can help the feeling that you are bound to fail.

 If this sounds familiar, you are not alone; you may be experiencing ‘imposter syndrome’. Imposter syndrome is a term used to describe a sense of unworthiness which persists despite evidence of your achievement and accomplishments. Such feelings may stem from wider societal issues, culture, peer groups, or even a year group. This feeling may affect your confidence and the way you perceive yourself. As a result of such feeling, you may be tempted to push yourself harder or convince yourself to drop out of university, as you may start seeing yourself as not being good enough to be in university.

You are not alone, anyone can experience ‘imposer syndrome’. It’s not strange to feel that you do not deserve to be on the programme, or that you have just been lucky. If you are struggling with feelings and thoughts like these, here are tips to help you overcome:

1. Find a mentor: At Canterbury Christ Church University you will have the opportunity to be supported by peer mentors. A more experienced student will be able to provide you with help and advice. A peer mentor will share their experiences with you, explaining what worked well for them and what they could have done differently. This will help to make you feel more at home in a new environment and debunk some of the myths about being at university. You can also find a person outside of university who you could look up to, trust, and who will be willing to support you on your career path.
2. Acknowledge yourself: Spend to reflect on your abilities and talents. Look at your journey and see how far you’ve come. Recognise that regardless of your background or previous challenges, you have still made it this far. Compliment yourself for not giving up.
3. Express your feelings: Always talk to someone that you trust and someone that understands your journey. Do not keep things bottled up; speak to a friend, a family member, a colleague, your PAT or even keep a diary.
4. See University as a marathon not a sprint: I’m sure you have heard this phrase countless times, “it’s a marathon not a sprint”. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes; as mistakes go a long way to help you learn and grow. Accept that it a journey you are embarking on. Once you see it as a journey, it will help you to accept your failures, cope with challenges, and congratulate yourself on each achievement.

Good Luck !