Written by Suzanne Hite, former publications editor serving the technology services sector.

Question: My professor seems to really hone in on me in class, like she is trying to rattle me. How can I stand my ground with her? 

Answer: We all remember being singled out in class. The professor does not want to rattle their students, but help everyone learn and grow in class. Your professor may see promise in your abilities, however your low self-esteem may be getting in the way. Let us take a look at ways to raise the bar on your self-esteem.

There is a unique dynamic between self-esteem and academic confidence. As one’s self-esteem improves, so does academic confidence, and conversely as competence increases, self-esteem improves. So, it is in your best interest as a student to look for ways to develop your personal confidence.

Studies in recent years have revealed that girls often leave college with lower self-esteem than they started with as freshmen. Even those with high academic achievements give themselves a lower self-evaluation than males do at the time of graduation.

Is the college to blame or is it a cultural issue? Further investigation hints towards cultural changes rather than academia being the cause of the confidence crash. The emergence of the ‘hookup culture’ has been cited as one of the most destructive elements of student life today. A hookup culture is one that encourages and accepts casual sexual encounters such as one-night stands which focus on physical rather than emotional feelings. Pressures to look or dress a certain way, eating disorders, and the housing lottery can also pile on the anxiety.

Approaching graduation brings more pressure with the reality of making grades, paying bills, getting interviews, finding somewhere to live, and being rejected from job applications. Self-esteem can take a big battering at this time in a girl’s life.

There are a number of steps to alleviate some of these pressures and boost your confidence, which will have a positive effect on your academic performance. The first one is in your mind: think positively about yourself. Remind yourself that, despite your current difficulties, you deserve to feel good about yourself. Challenge those negative thoughts and do not give in to them.

Some external factors that can do wonders for your self-esteem include a well-balanced diet and regular exercise. Healthy body healthy mind is the mantra here. To go with that is regular sleep, and enough of it. Personal hygiene is a large part of your self- image so keep it up and wear clothes that make you feel good about yourself. Keep your room and personal space clean and tidy, make it comfortable and attractive, somewhere you enjoy. Display some items that remind you of your achievements and special people and times in your life.

Negativity mounts up pretty quickly if left unchecked, by working on positives you will keep your self-esteem at healthy levels and your professor is likely to react by praising you rather than honing in on you.

Successful people have fear, successful people have doubts, and successful people have worries. They just don’t let those feelings stop them… T. Harv Eker.