This 12 minute video is a distillation of R.J. Jenkins' heartfelt talk at GS Reunion Weekend 2025, where he shares his journey from rural Florida to Columbia University, reframing impostor syndrome as a natural response to aspiration—not a flaw, but a sign of growth.
Many students—especially veterans, adult learners, and first-generation college students—struggle with feelings of impostor syndrome. But what if we’ve misunderstood those feelings all along? In this talk, R.J. challenges the traditional narrative around impostor syndrome and proposes a transformative reframing: what if what you're feeling isn't fraudulence—but humility, aspiration, and belonging in disguise?
Watch the full presentation from GS Reunion Weekend 2025