Being a student of color in predominantly white spaces can be a harrowing experience. Navigating the intersections of the International Baccalaureate program is hard enough, but with the nuances that come with being a person of color, it is easy to feel isolated in a program made up of hundreds.
One of the largest parts of being a student of color is imposter syndrome. Imposter syndrome is defined as a psychological issue where one doubts their ability due to their environment and begins to feel like a fraud. This disproportionately affects successful students of color by making us feel as if we don’t belong in this program. This is especially fueled by the lack of other students to support them. In order to overcome this overwhelming sense of phoniness, it is important to simply assert yourself as successful and become acquainted with defeat. Unfortunately, we are not always going to succeed or reach the place where we want to be, and that is fine. It's most important to make sure to not put a ton of pressure on yourself.
A large facet of not putting extreme amounts of stress on yourself is protecting your peace. IB can be an extremely difficult program and at times, it can feel as if you’re robbed of your essence. Code-switching and changing oneself to fit a certain program can be extremely exhausting, so it is incredibly important to do everything for yourself to make you feel like you belong. Take what is important to you, hold on to it, and cherish it, because that is what is going to help you through this challenging program.
Your health and happiness trump everything, so it is incredibly important to prioritize that. As a student of color, it can sometimes feel like the entire institution is going up against you, and it is easy to feel alone. This is why it is so important to protect your peace and do the things that make you happy and comfortable within yourself whether that be reaffirming your confidence in your race, hanging out with friends, meditating, and living life for yourself. This experience can be miserable and oftentimes it can feel like sleepwalking through a dark concave tunnel with no end. Knowing how to navigate it makes all the difference, and perseverance and peace become much more achievable.