The question I am a 22-year-old woman who has just graduated from university and am feeling extremely average. I grew up in an “education-heavy” household where success was measured in excellent marks and prestigious universities, and any good grades I received didn’t seem satisfactory. I used to think that excelling in school was not the only measure of intelligence, yet when I meet people who did excel, they are impressive and have careers to envy. I worry that not being as distinguished as them blights my future and that I can never measure up to them.
I am very lucky in many ways and recognise I am naturally gifted at some things, however in my mind it is not enough. I constantly feel I have impostor syndrome and need to prove myself. I am terrified I will feel like this for the rest of my life and that I can never feel satisfied with myself; that every success is not enough because I never got the same achievements as others. I’ll just be average forever.
