At the Chez Veterans Center, our Student-Led Workshop Series gives military-connected students the opportunity to guide meaningful conversations that build connection, understanding, and growth. Recently, a BSW graduate and first-year Master of Social Work student, Jacob Means, led a powerful session titled What Is Imposter Syndrome and How Do We Find a New Sense of Belonging? The discussion invited honesty, vulnerability, and community in ways that left a lasting impact on everyone in the room.
During the workshop, participants came together to talk about something many of us quietly struggle with—feeling like we don’t belong or haven’t truly “earned” our place. What made this session so memorable was how open everyone was to sharing. Though each person’s background was different—some were active duty, some dependents—everyone had experienced imposter syndrome at some point.
That rare moment of vulnerability helped create connection and understanding among people who might not have crossed paths otherwise. Jacob reflected that this openness made the workshop especially meaningful: “We all learned something about one another that we wouldn’t have learned without this class.”
Leading the discussion also came with its own lessons. Jacob discovered that sometimes the most powerful thing a facilitator can do is step back and give others the space to lead. “Creating a safe space where everyone feels comfortable sharing can lead to so much mutual learning,” they shared. “Sometimes my role isn’t to direct the conversation—it’s to hold the space for others to speak.”
By the end of the session, everyone walked away with a reminder that imposter syndrome isn’t something we experience in isolation—it’s something many people, from all walks of life, encounter. And through conversation, that feeling can start to lose its power.
This workshop echoed one of the core missions of the Chez Veterans Center: to create a welcoming and connected community for military-affiliated students. The Veteran community has long carried the weight of “suffering in silence,” but spaces like this challenge that norm and show that sharing our stories can help us heal and grow together.
Jacob also expressed gratitude to the donors who make programs like this possible. Their support allows students to continue building understanding and belonging—one honest conversation at a time.
This post is part of our Student-Led Workshop Series at the Chez Veterans Center, highlighting student voices and the impact of peer-led learning in our community.