Academia is filled with insecure overachievers who--no matter how high their objective level of achievement or recognition--fear that they're not worthy of their success and that at any moment they may be exposed as frauds (this phenomenon, which can be found both inside and outside academica, has come to be known as "the imposter syndrome").As a professional musician in Nashville for two years I found this quote to directly apply to "successful" musicians. I think I secretly always was wondering if people around me knew that I wasn't as good of a musician as my position might say that I am, or they did and just didn't have the guts to tell me.
I remember reading an interview with Chris Martin, frontman of the band Coldplay (if you have been living under a rock for the last 5 years and don't know who Coldplay is, they basically are the biggest band in the world), and he recounted a similar sentiment - that he was just waiting for people to find out that he isn't nearly as cool as people think he is.
But then again, does anyone really look at themselves and say "Yeah, I guess I am as intelligent, awesome and talented as you might think I am based on my position and letters behind my name". If there are people out there like that, then they have a far deeper problem than personal insecurity.
It's great to know that we all are leveled at the foot of the cross. Let's fight for the perspective.
(HT: Sean Michael Lucas)
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