Fighting Imposter Syndrome As a Teacher

Every teacher feels inadequate sometimes

Photo by Bermix Studio on Unsplash

It’s really easy to feel like you’re the only person having a horrible time and doing a terrible job. As a teacher, I feel this way a couple of times a day, usually during my worst class. As the honeymoon phase has ended, the behavior of my students has been getting worse, and behaviorally, my colleagues and I, along with much of the nation, have been struggling with student misbehaviors.

When the worst of the worst happens, it feels like you’re the worst teacher ever. It feels like you’re the only person struggling.

I know everyone feels this imposter syndrome to some degree, but I feel it all the time. It never feels like I’m doing a good job despite everyone telling me I’m doing a good job.

According to Crystal Raypole at Healthline, imposter syndrome includes feelings of self-doubt and incompetence “that persist despite your education, experience, and accomplishments.”

I have high expectations and standards for my students, and any time there’s misbehavior or any sort of conflict between my students, it feels like I didn’t do enough to proactively curb the conflict. When a student disrespects me, it feels like I didn’t set the tone well for how to speak to teachers and adults. Sometimes, when student…