At 27, I made one of the hardest decisions of my career: leaving a designer role I loved at Barrows to become a full-time lecturer at Ngee Ann Polytechnic.
I was excited. Teaching had always been something I enjoyed. But that excitement quickly turned into doubt.
“What if I’m not good enough?”
“What if they don’t respect me because I’m too young?”
“What if I fail these students?”
My first day didn’t help. A manager openly questioned my qualifications in front of colleagues. A senior designer refused to shake my hand, saying I lacked experience.
It crushed me.
I started to wonder if I made the wrong choice. Maybe I wasn’t cut out to be here.
But something shifted when I realized two things:
1. Imposter syndrome never tells the whole truth.
I wasn’t a fraud—I just had more to learn. Instead of focusing on what I lacked, I leaned into what I brought to the table: fresh industry insights and a genuine desire to help my students succeed.
2. Taking action silences doubt.
I poured everything into my first year—rebuilding outdated lessons, mentoring students, and connecting them with real-world design opportunities. Within that year, I was honored with a teaching award.
Looking back, I see how imposter syndrome almost robbed me of an incredible opportunity.
And here’s what I want you to know:
- Imposter syndrome is normal. Everyone feels it when they step into something new.
- You’re allowed to grow into your role. You don’t need to be perfect on day one.
- Your unique perspective is your strength.
If you’re feeling like you don’t belong in a room or a role, remember: growth only happens when you step into discomfort.
I stayed. I grew. And I helped hundreds of students launch their design careers.
Now it’s your turn to grow into the version of yourself you can’t see yet.
Hit reply and tell me: what’s one thing imposter syndrome is stopping you from doing right now? Let’s find your next step.
0 comments