Eliminating Impostor Syndrome (We Do It For The Culture Lesson)
SEL Domain(s): Self-Awareness, Self-Management, Social Awareness
Grades: 6-8
*Lesson may need to be modified to meet the specific needs of students
Description:
In this interactive lesson, middle school students explore the concept of impostor syndrome through video, music, and discussion, while building self-awareness, affirming personal strengths, and creating personalized “positivity playlists” to combat self-doubt.
Materials
Audio/visual equipment (for playing video and music)
Access to Guardian News video of Michelle Obama on impostor syndrome
Access to Dee-1’s song “Impostor Syndrome” (via streaming service or download)
Graphic organizers (for journaling prompts and playlist creation)
Speakers or sound system
Pens/pencils
Paper or notebooks
Optional: projector or screen for displaying video lyrics, prompts, or definitions
Steps:
CYPHER
The cypher is the opening 10-minute ritual that sets the tone.
Libation / Acknowledgements / Apologies / Announcements / Affirmations
ICEBREAKER / HOOK
“Celebrating You”
Estimated Time Needed: 5 Minutes
Tell students they will have three minutes to circulate throughout the room and provide compliments to their classmates. Students will think of at least one positive attribute about their classmate that they can share directly with them. The goal is to speak with as many classmates as possible within the three minute time frame.
The compliments can be related to:
Acts of service within the classroom/school community
Character traits
Personality features
Contributions to the classroom community
LESSON
Part One: “Conversations About Impostor Syndrome”
Estimated Time Needed: 10 Minutes
Background Information
Ask students what they think the term “impostor syndrome” means.
Share background information on Michelle Obama.
Michelle Obama is a lawyer, writer, and the wife of Barack Obama, the first Black President of the United States. She was the First Lady from 2009 to 2017.
She inspires people worldwide with her message of hope, kindness, and believing in yourself.
Share the definition of impostor syndrome.
DEFINITION
Watch & Discuss the Video
Watch the full Guardian News video of Former First Lady Michelle Obama explaining challenges with impostor syndrome.
After viewing the video, discuss the following prompts in a full cypher:
What is Michelle Obama’s definition of impostor syndrome?
How has it affected her life? Are you surprised she has felt this way?
What strategies do you believe can be used to get rid of impostor syndrome?
Share Strategies to Mitigate Impostor Syndrome
Here are some beneficial strategies that can be used to reinforce positivity and prevent Impostor Syndrome:
Build a positivity playlist
Listening to inspiring songs can shift your mood and provide encouragement when you are discouraged.Compliment yourself and others
Find ways to celebrate positive attributes in yourself and others.Journal about your accomplishments
Compose a journal entry reflecting upon aspects of your life that you are proud of. You can even write about the future achievements that you envision for yourself.
Pose the following questions to students
Which of these strategies will you continue using to prevent impostor syndrome?
What are some of the other approaches that you might try?
Part Two: “Self-Love”
Estimated Time Needed: 10 Minutes
Analyze Dee-1’s Song
Listen to Dee-1’s song “Impostor Syndrome.” Throughout the track, he mentions being someone who lacked confidence, never smiled, and struggled with feelings of inadequacy. Dee-1 raps about the necessity of motivation, self-confidence, and self-worth.
While listening to the song, consider the importance of these lyrics:
It hit different when you finally realize that you belong
And you been living life with impostor syndrome
Thinking you were never good enough, but that’s lies
You always been qualified
Now you see that you the prize
Discuss How Impostor Syndrome Shows Up in Our Lives
Teacher Note: Share a moment when impostor syndrome emerged in your life.
Ask students to write down responses to the following prompts using the graphic organizer:
How can impostor syndrome show up in our lives?
What are some moments that you may have felt impostor syndrome?
How might impostor syndrome be connected to your perception of your beauty or intelligence?
Which qualities about your life remind you of the Dee-1 lyrics shared above?
Have students share out their responses in small groups.
Part Three: “Positivity Playlist”
Estimated Time Needed: 10 Minutes
Playlists are helpful strategies for uplifting ourselves and one another during moments of doubt. Dee-1 recorded “Impostor Syndrome” to remember the moments that he transitioned from living in the hood in New Orleans to time spent as a Nasir Jones Hip-Hop Fellow at Harvard University studying how hip-hop music functions as a teaching tool in communities.
Playlist Activity
Ask students to use the graphic organizer to create a playlist of at least three songs that they can listen to when they need to get rid of imposter syndrome and deal with moments of self-doubt.
Tell students to think about the following questions while they create their playlists:
Which songs build confidence within me when I listen to them?
Which songs are uplifting and make me feel positive?
Which songs encourage me during moments of doubt?
Once students have constructed their playlists, ask each student to share at least one song they included in a whole class cypher discussion.
DEBRIEF / EXTENSIONS
Build a class playlist based on the songs that students present in their positivity playlists.
TEACHER NOTE: Check the songs first to ensure they are appropriate to be played in school.
