…go to office hours just to feel better about yourself.
GO TO OFFICE HOURS JUST TO FEEL BETTER ABOUT YOURSELF.
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Remember those days? The relentless pressure, the gnawing imposter syndrome, the constant feeling that everyone else had it all figured out. You’d sign up for office hours, not always because you were genuinely lost on a problem set, but because you needed a dose of validation. It was about seeking that brief, affirming glance from a professor, a subtle nod that said, "Yes, you do belong here. You are smart enough."
We’ve all been there. Crafting the perfectly phrased "conceptual question" you mostly already knew the answer to, just to sound intelligent and engaged. Or perhaps feigning a deeper struggle than you actually had, simply to get more face time and soak up some intellectual confidence from the source. It was a subtle coping mechanism, a quiet battle against the internal voice that whispered doubts amidst the brilliance surrounding you. These weren't just academic consultations; they were therapy sessions for the soul, mini-boosts of self-esteem in a high-stakes environment.
If you never left an office hour session feeling less like a fraud and more like a legitimate scholar, did you truly navigate the unique emotional landscape of your institution? This particular quest for self-affirmation was as integral to the experience as all-nighters in the library or the endless pursuit of extracurricular excellence. It’s a shared secret, a quirk in our collective journey through those hallowed halls.
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