Self-confidence is a quality that ultrasound technology students should possess in order to do well in sonography schools in 2017. College students can be overwhelmed at times, and it is easy to develop self-doubts in abilities. This is especially true if an assignment gets a poor grade or course material proves difficult to master. There are several ways to improve self-confidence, and it is an effort that can pay off over a lifetime.
What is Self-Confidence?
Self-confidence is a belief or feeling about oneself or one’s abilities. It is a state of mind that manifests itself in how situations are viewed and the reactions or responses to events. It goes beyond just being in a positive frame of mind. Having self-confidence means having realistic confidence in one’s power, abilities and judgment.
The level of self-confidence a person has influences how the person responds to negative events. For example, a sonography student gets a low grade on a test. A self-confident person tells herself that she needs to revise her method of studying because she knows she is intelligent enough to learn the material. A person who has low self-esteem will tell herself that she is not smart enough to make it through the class so might as well drop out of the program.
The difference is in how diminished a person feels when something unpleasant happens. Disappointment is a normal feeling, but the inner voice of someone lacking in self-confidence will say, “You can’t pass the math class,” or “Everyone else in the anatomy class is so much smarter, so why try?”
Low self-confidence is usually a result of past experiences that seemed to reinforce lack of trust in abilities. A particular situation in the present can trigger memories, influencing internal feelings and thoughts. If a student grew up experiencing self-esteem building conditions, it carries over to adulthood. If someone was repeatedly told over the years that he or she was not very smart, or the person did not do well while attempting different things, low self-confidence can develop.
Impact of Poor Self-Confidence
There are signs that someone does not have self-confidence. In the sonography school setting, they may appear in ways like the following:
- Unwilling to try new things
- Anxious about making a decision out of fear it will be the wrong one
- Shy, never speaking up at meetings, refusing to join a student club, reluctant to speak to faculty
- Difficulty communicating thoughts because of emotional distress
- Lack of assertiveness
These impacts will harm a student sonographer’s enjoyment of the learning process. Lack of self-confidence leads to sonography students focusing on their distress rather than focusing on learning and the people around them.
Tips for Improving Self-Confidence
There are a number of ways to adjust to sonography school and enhance self confidence at the same time. The first step, of course, is recognizing the real issue and deciding to do something about it. There is no reason that lack of self-confidence should hurt a student’s chance of pursuing a great career in sonography.
Do not let the inner voice take control of thoughts
That inner voice whispering, “You are not good enough,” is wrong. As is true for any bad advice, learn to recognize when it is speaking and learn to ignore it. A good strategy is to respond by thinking about all the successes and accomplishments the student can claim in the past and the present. This is a way to achieve self-acceptance.
Read books on self-esteem
There is a variety of literature available on the topic of self-confidence and self-esteem. The titles usually include words like confidence, assertive, self-confidence and self-esteem. Self-confidence books are focused on helping people understand why they have lack of confidence and what they can do to overcome the feelings.
Associate with positive people
Everyone has role models in their life. To learn how to be positive, associate with positive people. They are not going to say negative things about a student’s abilities or capabilities. Positive people are not critical of the classroom, courses, sonography equipment or program faculty. They enjoy their school experience and learn as much as possible.
Try to eliminate as much negativity in the personal life as possible
Romantic or other types of relationships can drag people down when the relationship is formed with the wrong person or persons. Friends that can talk a student into partying late on a school night are setting the student up to have a poor experience in the classroom, reaffirming low self-esteem.
Join a group
Join a group where it is possible to express opinions and improve communication skills without feeling pressure. There are many groups where people are encouraged to express their opinion but within a positive context. For example, a social club or book club offer great opportunities for building self-esteem.
Devise a plan for overcoming difficult moments
People with a lack of self-confidence know they will have experiences that test their ability to endure. Having a plan in mind to prevent the negative consequences can help a student overcome those moments. For example, if math is difficult then get a tutor; or if a large school project is overwhelming, realize it can be broken down into smaller pieces that are more manageable. Succeed at each step and self-confidence is bolstered.
Become a Sonographer
Lack of self-confidence should not hold back anyone who wants to become a Diagnostic Medical Sonographer. There are ways to overcome low self-esteem and low self-confidence. Students that are hesitant about starting a sonography program due to lack of self-confidence should browse the UltrasoundTechnician.org articles to get a better understanding of what it takes to be a successful student. Then find a sonography school with an appealing campus and culture. Do not hesitate to pursue career goals because the profession needs qualified people with caring hearts and high quality training.