Bishop’s University

Graduate Student Clara Bonneville: Analysis of the Imposter Phenomenon in Adolescence

Clara Bonneville is a master’s student in Psychology at Bishop’s University, where she is pursuing her graduate studies in what she describes as a supportive, human environment. After completing her bachelor’s degree at Bishop’s, she chose to stay because it felt like a place where she could truly grow, both as a person and as a researcher. During her undergraduate studies, she experienced an atmosphere where professors knew their students and valued collaboration rather than competition, which strongly aligned with her values. For Clara, the opportunity for close supervision and real connections with faculty made Bishop’s the right environment to deepen her research skills while remaining in a community that cares about student well-being as much as academic success.

Clara is enrolled in the Master’s program in Psychology, which offers solid theoretical training and strong methodological preparation, particularly in developmental and quantitative research. This training directly supports her research project on the imposter phenomenon in adolescence. The program also allows her to work closely with professors whose expertise in adolescent development and mental health fits perfectly with her interests.

Her decision to pursue graduate studies comes from a deep passion for psychology and a genuine love for working with adolescents. Through her experiences in community organizations such as La Maison des Jeunes L’Utopie and L’Assorti Bellechasse, she realized how meaningful it is to support teens during such a vulnerable and important stage of life. She was also strongly motivated by the mentorship of her supervisor, Dr. Marko Biberdzic, and her co-supervisor, Jonathan Carrière, whose expertise, support, and guidance played a major role in shaping her interest in adolescent mental health and encouraging her to pursue research at the graduate level.

Clara chose to focus her research on the imposter phenomenon in adolescence because it brings together many themes that matter deeply to her, including self-esteem, identity, school pressure, and mental health. Adolescence is already a period full of questions and comparison, and she often observes how young people doubt themselves, even when they are competent and talented. While the imposter phenomenon is well known in adults, far less is known about how it appears and evolves in teenagers, making this research both important and meaningful to her.

Her research aims to better understand how imposter feelings emerge in adolescence, what individual, parental, and school factors contribute to them, and how they influence psychosocial and academic functioning. Clara hopes that this work will help identify students who are silently struggling with self-doubt, even when they appear successful from the outside. In the long term, she hopes her research will support teachers, parents, and clinicians in recognizing imposter feelings earlier and developing interventions that promote self-efficacy, well-being, and a kinder, more encouraging school environment.

One of the challenges Clara has encountered during her graduate studies has been managing uncertainty about the future, particularly when thinking about the competitiveness of psychology programs and the possibility of pursuing doctoral studies. At times, she has questioned whether she is “good enough” to reach the next step: an experience that directly connects to her research topic. She has addressed these challenges by staying open with her supervisors, seeking honest feedback, and surrounding herself with supportive peers and mentors.

During her time at Bishop’s University, Clara has developed strong skills in research design, questionnaire-based methods, data analysis, and scientific writing. What she finds most fulfilling is seeing how an idea can grow into a real research project that may eventually benefit the adolescents she cares so much about. Having close supervision and supportive professors has helped her feel seen, encouraged, and motivated to keep pushing herself.

Balancing academic responsibilities, research commitments, and personal life is not always easy, but Clara tries to be intentional with her time. She relies on planning tools, breaks large tasks into smaller steps, and sets realistic weekly goals. She also makes a point of protecting time for her personal life, knowing that being kind to herself ultimately makes her a better student and researcher.

Looking ahead, Clara plans to pursue a PhD in Psychology, with the goal of combining research and clinical practice. She hopes to continue studying identity, self-efficacy, and imposter feelings in adolescents, ideally through longitudinal research. In the future, she aims to integrate her research into clinical and community-based work and contribute to a more compassionate understanding of adolescent mental health.

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Joannie St-Germain B.Sc. ’16, M.Sc. (she/her/elle)
RESEARCH OFFICER
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND GRADUATE STUDIES
819-822-9600 x 2242

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