In this episode of the Impostor Syndrome Files, we explore the ways in which feeling different from others makes us doubt ourselves and how it often pushes us to try to prove ourselves to those around us. My guest, Shirag Shemmassian, shares his personal journey of impostor syndrome as he grew up with Tourette Syndrome and worried that the opportunities presented to him were a function of his disability rather than his competence. Shirag and I explore the implications of this for others from historically marginalized groups, as well as strategies we can use to distinguish fact from the opinions and stories we tell ourselves that hold us back. About My GuestDr. Shirag Shemmassian is the Founder of Shemmassian Academic Consulting and one of the world's foremost experts on medical school admissions, college admissions, and graduate school admissions. For nearly 20 years, he and his team have helped thousands of students get into medical school and top colleges using his systematic and proprietary approach.While in high school, Dr. Shemmassian took a keen interest in the higher education process. He navigated the admissions process with limited college counseling and became the only Ivy League graduate in his high school’s nearly 60-year history. Specifically, Dr. Shemmassian received his B.S. in Human Development from Cornell University. Despite graduating with a 3.9 GPA as a pre-med student, Dr. Shemmassian’s interests in mental health led him to complete his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology at UCLA. Throughout his education and beyond, Dr. Shemmassian successfully guided students into top colleges, medical schools, and graduate programs, and has found his professional calling in helping others achieve their educational and career goals.Dr. Shemmassian’s admissions expertise has been featured in various media outlets, including The Washington Post and Business Insider. Moreover, he has been invited to speak at Yale, Stanford, UC Berkeley, and other prestigious institutions about various aspects of the admissions process.Dr. Shemmassian was born in Los Angeles to Armenian parents who immigrated to the United States from Lebanon. He now resides in San Diego with his wonderful wife, mischievous toddler son, and 9-pound dog. Dr. Shemmassian is an avid cook and, while he dislikes the term, a “foodie” who routinely travels long distances for a great meal—his friends call him “Human Yelp” for his recommendations. He is also a huge basketball fan (Go Lakers!) and lover of geography.~You can learn more about Dr. Shemmassian at:https://www.shemmassianconsulting.com/~Connect with Kim and The Impostor Syndrome Files:Join the Boost Your Confidence BootcampJoin the free Impostor Syndrome ChallengeLearn more about the Leading Women discussion groupWebsites:https://yourcareersuccess.comhttps://impostorsyndromefiles.comJoin the Slack channel to learn from, connect with and support other womenJoin the Facebook groupSchedule time to speak with Kim Meninger directly about your questions/challengesConnect on LinkedIn