Casey Lartigue Jr., center, seated at the table, with graduate students at the Harvard Graduate School of Education in this September 2024 photo / Courtesy of Casey Lartigue Jr.

Impostor syndrome is a pervasive challenge, especially in high-pressure environments like Harvard. Many individuals, regardless of their accomplishments, experience feelings of inadequacy and self-doubt. Despite its prevalence, impostor syndrome has never been a part of my personal journey. From my earliest experiences at Harvard, I developed a mindset rooted in confidence, authenticity and a deep understanding of my value. In this post, I reflect on my journey, share insights from transformative moments and offer perspectives on how I make impostor syndrome irrelevant in my life.

One, from the beginning of my Harvard journey, I was fortunate to meet a group of Black graduate students at the Harvard Divinity School who took me under their wing. They taught me a guiding principle: “Harvard is what you make it.” This wisdom encouraged me to take control of my experience, shaping it without waiting for permission or validation. I embraced this philosophy wholeheartedly, becoming an executive editor of The Harvard Crimson, I joined student clubs ranging from the Black Students Association, Democrats at Harvard, Republicans at Harvard, the Objectivist Club at Harvard, etc., and was a founder of an unofficial Sowell Brothers group (named after economist Thomas Sowell) that went around campus debating any and everyone.

My approach has always been grounded in authenticity. I don’t believe in “faking it until you make it.” Instead, I focus on bringing my genuine self into every space I enter. This mindset has allowed me to confidently embrace........

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