Unmasking the illusion

Carolyn Burt — Thu, 19 Oct 2023 02:05:07 +0000

There is a secret that many students carry with them, hidden beneath the facade of confidence and achievement. It is a feeling that lurks in the shadows of every lecture room, library, and dorm — a feeling of not belonging, of being an imposter in the academic world. This secret is known as “imposter syndrome,” and it is a phenomenon that haunts the minds of people across the globe.

As students, we often wear masks— not just physical COVID-19 masks, but masks of competence, success and certainty. These masks shield us from the vulnerability of admitting that we do not have all the answers, that we sometimes struggle and that we fear being exposed as frauds. We assume the guise of the studious classmate who diligently completes every reading assignment, appearing composed, even though a two-hour nap was our saving grace just moments before class. We hide behind the mask of the accomplished scholar, afraid to admit that we occasionally grapple with self-doubt.

Imposter syndrome whispers in our ear that we must be flawless to succeed. It established unattainable benchmarks for us, leading us to believe that straying from the conventional path to success will lead to failure. In our quest for flawlessness, we overlook that our imperfections define our humanity.

Behind the scenes, we wrestle with hidden struggles: the gloomy late-night doubts, the apprehension of falling short of one’s family expectations, and the constant comparison to our peers. “Have I involved myself in enough extracurriculars? Does my resume stand out? Is my GPA good enough?” We bury our insecurities beneath layers of academic achievements, hoping that we will have it all figured out one day. Spoiler alert: we never will.

As our academic journey continues, we realize that imposter syndrome is a shapeshifter that thrives on our insecurities. Simultaneously, we discover that we can unmask this imposter to confront it head-on. We find strength in vulnerability, knowing that it is okay to ask for help, to admit when we do not know the answers, and to embrace our imperfections.

Your authenticity shines brighter than any mask you could ever wear.

The post Unmasking the illusion appeared first on The Argosy .

Cucumber Chronicles

Carolyn Burt — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 19:04:14 +0000

Ah, the life of a student in Canada, where winters are long, dreams are big, and bank accounts are as empty as a library at 3 a.m. As I scavenge through the barren aisles of my local supermarket, I cannot help but chuckle at the absurdity of it all. In a world where technology is advancing at warp speed, where we have robots on Mars and self-driving cars, I find myself standing in the produce section, staring in disbelief at a cucumber with a price tag that might as well have been a winning lottery number: $4. Yes, you read that right.

Let us take a moment to dissect this cucumber conundrum. Not too long ago, a cucumber used to cost less than a pack of gum. It was the ideal healthy snack for a broke student: cucumber and dip, practically a gift from Mother Nature herself. Now, it is as if the cucumber has undergone some kind of Ivy League education, complete with tuition fees and student loans. This cucumber probably has an Instagram account, a subscription to The New Yorker, and dreams of travelling to Europe once it graduates from the vegetable academy.

I wonder what this cucumber’s life was like before it ended up on the grocery store shelf. Did it have a humble upbringing in a small, organic farm, nurtured by a loving farmer who sang it lullabies and told it stories of the big, wide world beyond the garden fence? Or was it part of some cucumber conglomerate, raised in a cold, sterile greenhouse, with its only companions being automated watering systems and fluorescent lights? Either way, it must have been one pampered cucumber to have earned its $4 price tag.

As I continue my journey through the grocery store, I roll my eyes at the ludicrousness of the rising food prices. It extends beyond the cucumber; it encompasses everything. We find ourselves in a situation reminiscent of a Shakespearean tragedy, torn between spending our last shillings on textbooks or groceries, to be educated or to be nourished! Even the humble ramen noodles, the sacred sustenance of students everywhere, have become premium gourmet delicacies with prices that would make a Michelin-star chef blush.

And so, armed with determination and an appetite for finding bargains of half-off stickers and no-named brands, we brave the aisles of this pricey Canadian landscape. The $4 cucumber may symbolize our culinary trials, but we, dear comrades-in-frugality, stand stronger.

The post Cucumber Chronicles appeared first on The Argosy .

Carolyn Burt , Author at The Argosy

Unmasking the illusion

Cucumber Chronicles