Aloha Yellow Jackets,

For those who observe All Hallow’s Eve, happy Halloween!! Ever since I was a child, I always loved this autumn holiday, intrigued by the creativity, mystery, costumes, and masks – offering the chance to temporarily become someone or something else. This invokes the concept of one particular type of “mask:” imposter syndrome. Over the years, many students at Georgia Tech have shared that they experience it at one time or another. I too have struggled with imposter syndrome throughout my years as a student and throughout my professional career, even during my time at Georgia Tech. It is something that can affect us all, no matter how successful we may seem.

In this issue of our monthly newsletter, we will cover the following topics:

• Making Meaningful Friendships & Tackling Imposter Syndrome
• Freedom of Expression: Our Shared Rights and Responsibilities

Making Meaningful Friendships & Tackling Imposter Syndrome

Last week, our monthly Real Talk Thursday session, discussion – prompted by a recent Reddit thread - focused on the challenges of finding friends, as well as building and sustaining a viable social network. Undergraduate and graduate students talked about the barriers they faced in seeking social wellness, as well as the enablers. Students noted that finding common hobbies or interests; sharing an academic major, area of study, or program; or taking a risk to just start asking others questions to learn about who they are have all worked to establish new friendships. Graduate students expressed that things got easier as they got older, had more life experiences, and developed more self-awareness. 

Conversely, imposter syndrome was cited by a number of students as making the process of finding friends more difficult, particularly at Georgia Tech, where seemingly every student arrives with remarkable intellectual and other talents. Imposter syndrome was first described in 1978 by psychologists Suzanne Imes and Pauline Rose Clance. While Imes and Clance were initially writing about high-achieving female professionals, we now understand that imposter syndrome is experienced by a wide range of individuals across many identities. Imposter syndrome is not a mental health diagnosis but instead refers to a constellation of cognitive and behavioral patterns that can exhibit in academic, professional, and relationship contexts. Its earmarks are:

• You question your own competencies, contributions, strengths, or successes, often attributing your achievements to luck rather than ability;
• You believe that you are not as talented or worthwhile as others perceive you are, and as a result may work harder to attempt to close the gap; and
• You worry or live in fear that others will “find you out” and discover you are a fraud or masquerading as something you are not.

Students at Real Talk Thursday shared a fear that perhaps they don’t really belong at Georgia Tech and that this fear made it harder at times to admit that they need help, don’t have all the answers, or can’t do something. Ironically, such anxieties make it difficult to be vulnerable; as a result, students make choices not to share their feelings and thoughts, not realizing that so many peers feel exactly the same way. As a result, students may feel more alone, lost and isolated than they need to.   

These feelings can intensify when comparing private uncertainties with others’ public successes. Students reported during Real Talk Thursday that they experience Georgia Tech as a highly competitive place that often embraces a culture of exceptionalism. Yet, speaking honestly about self-doubt can help us recognize that we actually have common experiences, thus creating pathways for deeper, more authentic connections. The masquerade can end by making one small, courageous act: asking a question, reaching out for help, admitting you can’t do something, or letting someone know when you are having a difficult week. 

Halloween gives us permission to wear a mask for a little while, but the mask should come off when the celebration is over. Those who grapple with imposter syndrome or are hiding behind this mask can experience real detrimental effects on emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual wellness. Human beings are interesting and intriguing not so much for our perfection, but because we are inherently complex entities, engaged in lifetime learning and ever capable of growing and developing should we choose to. 

If you are hoping to make more meaningful friendships, then you can combat imposter syndrome by adopting some of the following practices:
 

• Distinguish between feelings and facts. When you start sensing self-doubt or feeling like you are a fraud, practice mindfulness. Hit pause on that mental recording, and instead begin accurately documenting, reviewing and analyzing actual evidence and facts.
• Extend grace to yourself. Most of us have tremendous capacity to extend compassion, kindness, and forgiveness to others, but are unable to offer any to ourselves. When doubt is bubbling up, speak to yourself as you might to a close friend in a similar situation. Everyone is allowed to make mistakes, grow and learn, and this includes you.
• Regularly review and remind yourself of your wins. Set aside time to identify accomplishments, achievements, contributions, and things that offer a sense of pride. Save and go back to cards, emails, letters, notes and other evidence of others recognizing your positive impact, gifts, and strengths. And if you ever find yourself engaging in self-critique, counter each critique with something that is positive.
• Practice accepting gratitude and praise. Instead of disputing the recognition, deflecting the acknowledgment, or minimizing your role in it, practice mindfulness by simply saying, “Thank you” and then allowing yourself to savor the moment.
• Interrupt making comparisons, especially between yourself and others. In an organizational context where we are often pitted or evaluated against each other, and in which achievement is highly celebrated, this can be particularly difficult. Spending excessive time on social media can exacerbate this sense of inadequacy. Instead, focus on setting goals and milestones for yourself, and tracking progress against your own performance. Focus on improvement and growth, rather than striving for perfection.

Most importantly, talk with others about imposter syndrome. This can start with a roommate, a lab mate, individuals in your study group, other members of your student club, in a therapy group, or sitting next to somebody while riding on the bus. Making the effort to embrace human being-ness over human doing-ness can be a powerful antidote to imposter syndrome.

As one student encouraged the audience at last week’s Real Talk Thursday event, “Be genuinely curious about other people. Start conversations that reflect a sincere interest in getting to know someone. Sometimes, they will reciprocate, and you may find friendship and community.” 

Freedom of Expression: Our Shared Rights and Responsibilities

With election season underway and an increase in expressive activity across campus, many of us are encountering messages and viewpoints that may challenge our beliefs or cause frustration. This is an important moment to revisit both our rights and our responsibilities—and to clarify Georgia Tech’s role as a public university to safeguard freedom of expression and inquiry. Georgia Tech is required to protect lawful expression without regard to viewpoint; as long as the expressive activity is consistent with time, place and manner procedures, then we are obligated to safeguard freedom of expression and inquiry. However, allowing speech or expressive activity on campus does not mean the Institute endorses or agrees with its content.

Georgia Tech is committed to upholding the First Amendment and the Institute's Freedom of Expression policies and procedures. These protections extend to viewpoints that others may find controversial or objectionable. The Institute does not review, fact-check, or approve the content of protected expression. This ensures that our practices are applied consistently, regardless of viewpoint. Allowing an individual or organization to use campus space does not mean Georgia Tech endorses or agrees with the messages expressed.

Freedom of expression also comes with responsibilities. Georgia Tech takes seriously reports of Threats, unlawful discrimination, harassment, and other prohibited conduct that violates the law or Institute policy. We are committed to ensuring that all members of our community can learn, participate in campus life, and feel included. The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority. We recognize that some forms of expression may raise concerns or cause distress, and we provide emotional support and referral to relevant resources. We remain committed to fostering a campus where students feel supported and respected while upholding the freedom of expression rights that are fundamental to a public university.

This is a timely reminder that all first-year undergraduate and graduate students—including transfer and fully online students—must complete Perspectives, the University System of Georgia’s required civil discourse training by Thursday, December 31, 2026. This self-paced online course takes approximately one hour on average to complete and offers practical tools for engaging across differences with curiosity and respect. Students who do not complete the requirement by the deadline will have a hold placed on their academic record, which may affect Spring 2027 course registration and other student privileges; students who are required to complete the course can access the Perspectives platform here. Learn more about Perspectives at Georgia Tech by visiting our site.

Closing Thoughts

At Georgia Tech, our individual strengths matter, but so does our ability to support one another. We are at our best when we create a community where people can be authentic, ideas can be exchanged freely and responsibly, and no Yellow Jacket feels they must navigate the journey alone. As a reminder, resources for support are always available through our Student Resource Guide and for fully online students, visit our Online Student Resource Guide. Please take care of yourself, look out for one another, and have a healthy and happy Halloween!

Go Jackets!