Fake It ‘Til You Make It…Out of Imposter Syndrome

By Caroline Driggers, Taylor Collective Solutions

We’ve all felt it. That quiet voice in your head whispering, “You don’t belong here.”

Whether it’s landing your dream job, getting into a school that you thought was out of reach, or sitting in a room full of people who seem more “deserving”, you might find imposter syndrome creeping in and overstaying its welcome. 

And when it does, what’s the advice we tend to hear so often?

“Just fake it ‘til you make it.” 

It's a phrase I’ve heard my entire life. It sounds simple, empowering even. But for a long time, I didn’t know what it actually meant–or if it even worked.

My First Experience with Imposter Syndrome

I remember the first time that voice of self-doubt really made itself known. It was the summer before my senior year in high school, and I was heading to the American Legion Auxiliary Texas Bluebonnet Girls State–essentially a government camp where high school students run mock elections and learn the ins and outs of civic leadership. 

Why did I go?

Because my brother, who also did not know much about government, went to Texas Boys State, and it looked impressive on a college application. He got into UT Austin, my dream school, so I thought, “If I want a shot, I need to do the same.”

But I wasn’t nominated by my school like most attendees. In fact, my school didn’t know what Girls State was. They just said, “Yeah, sure, go ahead.”

And that made me feel like an outsider before I even arrived.

I imagined everyone else at this camp would be some type of future senator, reading government policy for fun and knowing the Declaration of Independence by heart. Meanwhile, I had zero interest in politics at the time and a whole lot of anxiety.

“Just fake it ‘til you make it,” my mom told me. 

And so, I did. I acted like I belonged. Like I knew what I was doing. Like I had something to say–even when I wasn’t sure I did. 

And guess what? It worked. I learned to adapt. I ran for elections. I gave speeches. I made friends. My brain stopped questioning if I belonged, because my actions proved I did.

UT Austin: A Dream Come True (And Another Challenge)

My next big imposter moment came when I got into UT Austin.

That was, and still is, the most pivotal day of my life.

Growing up with ADHD, my brain has always moved faster than my mouth, causing me to get tripped up, forget what I am saying mid-sentence, and be easily distracted. I’ve been called scatterbrained, ditzy, stupid, etc. The “dumb blonde” stereotype followed me like a shadow. Over time, all of those labels chipped away at my confidence.

So when I got my acceptance letter, it felt like validation. Like every hurtful comment had been silenced.

But when classes started and I found myself surrounded by brilliant, accomplished students, the doubt came back.

Am I smart enough to be here?

Did they accept me by mistake?

How do I know I won’t fail and embarrass myself?

Once again, I reached for the phrase I knew, “Fake it ‘til you make it.”

Through every high and low–good grades and bad, moments of burnout and bursts of motivation, professors who challenged me to tears and others who reminded me of my potential–those six words stayed quietly anchored at the back of my mind. They became less of a cliche and more of a strategy. I pushed myself to go for what I wanted while staying grounded in who I was.

As a Public Relations major, I began to see a future that actually felt right for me. No faking necessary. One opportunity led to another, I landed an internship through my journalism class, and now, two years after graduating, I'm working full-time at that same company, doing what I love.

What I’ve Realized

No one has it all figured out. Not really. Everyone is navigating uncertainty in their own way, even if it doesn't look like it from the outside. We’re all, in some form, faking it ‘til we make it, but that doesn’t mean we’re being inauthentic. It means we’re learning, adapting, and growing into versions of ourselves we haven’t fully met yet. 

Confidence doesn’t always come first. Sometimes, it’s built through action. Through showing up, taking risks, and trusting yourself before you feel completely ready. “Faking it” isn’t about pretending to be someone you’re not; it’s about giving yourself permission to step into who you’re becoming. And over time, what once felt like an act starts to feel natural because you’ve actually become that person.