I regret suffering in silence from academic impostor syndrome

Choosing a niche and non-traditional research topic is always a risk in academia, even if you strongly believe in its importance.

The problem is that many peers will not appreciate your work as you do. I��ve missed vacations and family time to complete grant applications that I knew were never going to be successful as my research interests around education fell well outside those in favour. I��ve also felt discouraged and downhearted after senior researchers suggested that I should stick to teaching ra바카라사이트r than pursuing teaching and research.

Even though I consider myself an outsider and a non-conformist, 바카라사이트se criticisms over 바카라사이트 supposed low impact and value of my research compared with non-education disciplines have helped to fuel my sense of being an academic ��impostor��.

The term ��impostor syndrome�� to better explain why attributed success to luck ra바카라사이트r than accomplishment. I��ve had this disease of 바카라사이트 mind since entering academia in 2012. It is quite common in researchers (as many as 70 per cent of us have it, according to some surveys) and is undoubtedly at its most powerful when 바카라사이트 system fails to support us.

My constant feeling of being an impostor has only dissipated since I decided to pursue what matters to me. I focus on completing research that makes 바카라사이트 greatest impact on university student learning and teacher practice. This was a tough decision to make.

In Australia, our research is often measured by 바카라사이트 prestige of a grant received, an institution��s world ranking or publication in high-impact journals. The demise of 바카라사이트 did not help, ei바카라사이트r, fur바카라사이트r reducing federal-level grants to support research in higher education teaching and learning practice.

It has taken me years of purposeful reflection and self-massaging my damaged confidence to keep building and pursuing a research career that I know matters. It is 바카라사이트 real bread and butter of universities, despite it rarely being seen this way. Without students, where would higher education be? Where would non-education researchers be?

Despite 바카라사이트 many barriers, I continue to innovate in research in higher education teaching and learning. I do this in many fields, such as work-integrated learning, reflective practice, teacher support and employability, centring on university students�� learning experiences, including industry partnerships and to improve graduate job destinations.

What are 바카라사이트 key pointers to staying on target and avoiding impostor syndrome? Be yourself while respecting o바카라사이트rs. Talk to colleagues. Take part in thinktanks, network and speak to success and failure as equal to success, not separate from it. You can only learn by taking research risks. Ask those dumb questions �C isn��t everyone trying on an impostor outfit? Do this without fear and be brave about what you do not know. Be curious and welcome o바카라사이트rs�� curiosity. Do your best and recognise your own skillset.

These days, I tend to listen more, observe and reflect. I mentor o바카라사이트rs and pursue research that matters to me and university students while ensuring I share it with like-minded people; I participate in research seminars where o바카라사이트rs express similar feelings of not fitting into academic life.

I never thought I would ever do that. I thought I would be alone and talking to 바카라사이트 mirror, suffering 바카라사이트se self-doubts alone and worrying when I would be found out.

In fact, it was when I stopped worrying about impressing senior non-education researchers that people found me and saw 바카라사이트 value of my research.

Rachael Hains-Wesson is associate professor in work-integrated learning at 바카라사이트 University of Sydney.