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Within the Champlain College Game Studio, many students find themselves struggling with the feeling of not being good enough; being an impostor. This is commonly referred to as Impostor Syndrome, where individuals in professional roles doubt their own agency and expertise.
Impostor Syndrome is an issue that faces many people within the Video Game Industry itself, but why does it affect students within the Game Studio who haven’t even hit the industry yet? Could it be because the school’s prided “Upside-Down Curriculum” puts students in the position of those in the industry, and that pressure reinforces self-doubt?
This syndrome plagues the mental health of many students and can often make the symptoms of mental illnesses more severe. It remains an open question how colleges can help students enjoy a healthier educational experience.
Some students can get Impostor Syndrome in the course of developing their own projects and the constant comparison to work being done by peers. First-year game design student Dillon Landry said, “I have very varied opinions on my own projects. When comparing them to other people's creations, I often feel my own are simpler, or sloppier.”
Many well-known game designers within the industry have also been on record saying that they have struggled with Impostor Syndrome. Some of these designers include but are not limited to, Ryan Wiemeyer (Oregon Trail Designer), Stephan Schütze (Audio Designer), M.E. Chung (Designer at Bungie), Chris DeLeon (Teacher of Game Design), and many others.
Imposter syndrome is so prevalent that the steps to address it seem difficult to take. But as students work towards becoming proficient in their discipline, the stress of measuring up appears to be taking its toll.
By Harper Bennett
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