Parks and Re-Cognition: Navigating imposter syndrome as an early-career professional
- Dani Mills
- 2 days ago
- 4 min read
As parks and recreation professionals, our jobs require us to be leaders from early on in our careers. Whether as camp counsellors, lifeguards, or fitness instructors, we are looked to by the public as experts in health, wellness, safety, and so much more. That's a lot of responsibility to put on someone who just graduated and is still figuring their way!
Telling my story
I've always been a high achiever. I'm academically gifted, hold a Bachelor of
Business Administration with Honours from Trent University, and I'm currently top of my class in the Recreation and Leisure Services program at Durham College.
In addition to my academic achievements, I have developed a strong work ethic - a reflection of my parents who are entrepreneurs. For years, I have held a stable job, and I'm well-known and respected globally for my work with the International Axe Throwing Federation.
You're reading this because I was one of only seven post-secondary students across the province to be selected to be a PRO Ambassador. Most recently, I was the recipient of the 2025 PRO Awards of Excellence Hugh Clydesdale Bursary - a recognition of my achievements and promise as a future leader.
Despite this credible and tangible evidence of my competence as a parks and recreation professional, I have struggled with imposter syndrome.
Understanding imposter syndrome
Imposter Syndrome (also called Imposter Phenomenon), can be characterized as someone who experiences:
In other words, I often feel like I'm faking it, or have you all fooled. These feelings used to make me terribly anxious on a regular basis. In learning more about imposter syndrome, I've come to realize that I'm not alone.
Overcoming imposter syndrome
Eventually, the time came where I had to learn to overcome these feelings. If not, I risked my professional progress and mental health. Having a name for these feelings was the first step in learning how to cope. Understanding that I wasn't alone in experiencing imposter syndrome helped me, through time and repetition, to learn to trust my own capabilities.
Addressing my symptoms of imposter syndrome was necessary for my professional progress and mental health.
As an extension of this, learning how to fail, and more importantly, learning how to rebound, has been fundamental in rising above imposter syndrome and other work-related anxieties. As a high achiever, it took me a long time to overcome my fear of failure, and understand that failure if not the end of the world (despite what it may seem).
PRO EX 2025 Takeaways
At the 2025 PRO Expedition Education Conference & Trade Show, I was fortunate to attend a presentation led by Chase Ellis, Director of Parks and Recreation for Town of Trophy Club, TX, and Angela Summers, Assistant City Manager for City of Henderson, NV, about this exact topic.
Chase and Angela each brought unique insights to a packed conference room, and offered a few key takeaways for managing imposter syndrome:
Live your life in a state of gratitude and admiration for the people around you.
Practicing this outlook makes it easier to feel the same way about yourself.
Connections and relatability are vital.
Understanding that we're all human and making similar efforts to get through the day significantly eases the pressure we put on ourselves.
A positive culture, whether in paid or volunteer work, makes a world of difference.
Creating a culture of equitable work delegation, recognition of effort, and feedback on performance, leads to clear, open communication, and prevents uncertainty that the fuels imposter syndrome and other work-related anxieties.
What imposter syndrome can teach us
While there isn't one set answer to manage imposter syndrome, the universal consensus seems to revolve around being kinder to ourselves and others.
The urge to be hard on ourselves is one that is meant to protect us from rejection and failure. However, it's the resiliency of testing boundaries and bouncing back from mistakes that helps us improve. This is true at work, in the swimming pool, on the ice rink, and in all areas of life.
It's the resiliency of testing boundaries and bouncing back from mistakes that help us improve.
Experiencing imposter syndrome, although unpleasant, can remind us what it's like to be a beginner at something, and the nervousness that can come with starting a new fitness regime, attending a community event, or joining a social club. Learning to identify and navigate imposter syndrome in our own lives can help us better support and serve those who may be experiencing similar feelings when accessing parks and recreation programming and services for the first time.
Want to learn more or share your own knowledge about topics in parks and recreation? Attend the 2026 PRO EX Summit or apply to share your expertise!
About the author
Dani Mills
PRO Ambassador, Durham College Student
Dani is a mature, second year student in Recreation and Leisure Services at Durham College. Outside of studies, you can find Dani doing something creative, learning a new skill, or taking part in their favourite sport - axe throwing!