Fraud Alert?! Lessons Learned in Three Years

I have thought about this blog post for months. I pondered what I was going to write about, and as the due date approached I increasingly became more anxious because I could not decide on a topic. At work, I am usually one of the first to start on a new task or project, but for some reason I could not manage to get myself to write this blog. After some introspective hours at a local coffee shop, I realized that the challenge in picking a topic was that I did not feel like I deserved to be writing a post. I did not feel like I had anything to say that other student affairs professionals would find valuable. While that sounds pretty self-degrading, I believe it stems from the often discussed impostor syndrome. Impostor syndrome is a condition in which an individual feels that they are a fraud when they are not. There has been extensive research about the prevalence of the impostor syndrome, particularly amongst high-achieving women. From conversations with friends and colleagues, I think self-degrading thoughts are common amongst new student affairs professionals. We constantly question our worth and value in the workplace.

For me, some of this feeling stems from the fact that I still feel like I have a lot to learn. I have only been working in higher education for three years, and am still finishing up my Master’s degree. As a young professional, I have put a tremendous amount of internal pressure on myself to excel and exude confidence. While I may feel more like a fraud than an expert, I have come to realize that I can still share my personal experiences. I hope that some of these experiences and lessons will resonate with other women in this field.

Lessons Learned in Three Years:

·         Be your own best advocate

At the end of the day, no matter how many wonderful mentors or supervisors you have…you have to take to charge of your own career. If there is something that you want to do or someplace you want to go, you cannot wait for someone else to encourage you to go. “Don’t wait for it to happen, go make it happen”

·         Never doubt the impact of your work

We all experience challenging days at work… you know…those days when you wonder if you are in the right position or if you are making an impact. We cannot let phone calls with angry parents or frustrating conversations with students put a damper our spirits. We all got into this work because we know the positive impact that we can have on college students. If you are having a tough day, read through those thank you notes or encouraging post it notes that plaster your office walls…

·         Get moving during the day, you will be more productive

Buying a fitbit was a major wake up call for me. It helped me realize how much time I spend sitting at work. Now colleagues and I have challenges to see who can get in more steps during the work week. This is a great way to motivate myself to get moving. Some strategies that I have found that work include: scheduling meetings across campus or in other colleagues’ offices, having walking meetings, running errands for your program assistant, etc.

·         A little thank you goes a long way

People love to be thanked, and they deserved to be thanked! After every event, try to write thank you notes to everyone who helped make the event possible (catering, moving and set up, technology, etc.). An acknowledgment of a job well done does wonders when building relationships across campus.

·         Believe in yourself, you are not an impostor

While I might sound like a hypocrite now, believing in yourself is one of the most important lessons I have learned in the past three years. “If you do not believe in yourself, no one else will.”

Stacey Rusterholz is in a dual role at Elon University. She serves as the Campus Kitchen Coordinator and Assistant to the Director of the Center for Leadership. Stacey is also finishing up her final year of her in the Student Personnel Administration in Higher Education Master’s Program at University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Connect with her at smarkham@elon.edu.