Summer PIP

Project Overview

My objective for this project was to analyze and spread awareness about Impostor Syndrome and its relevancy to our lives. I hoped to also provide research along personal insight from myself and others such as interviews. I plan to create some sort of bio and Eco-friendly eraser as I will document its data, issues and progress throughout this capstone project that will testify if whether or not I may experience Impostor Syndrome in some kind of capacity. Impostor Syndrome is more often than not present in women and individuals who are minorities. Me being a minority, that is challenged by outside opinions and ideas, I do expect some kind of self doubt whether this project will be a success or failure. But I hope that me being the experiment as well for this project I can influence those I present this project to, and that they may analize and know there worth. And also know that this syndrome acts as a illusion and self barrier to keep them from reaching there full potential. So whether or not this is a failure or success, I hope that I and my audience can look back at this project as some sort of self growth or analysis. For me, taking on this challenge of entrepreneurship is a big step, but that's exactly why I hope and believe this challenge will prove and show accurate information of myself relating to impostor syndrome.

Project Inspiration

Participating in programs of health and medical research like Health Professions Recruitment Exposure Program (HPREP with Yale) I've found myself much more interested in real world health problems and topics relevant today like mental health stigmas, racial discrimination, trauma treatment and much more. We had briefly dove into "impostor syndrome" after conducting some research I realized that this is a silent epidemic we all have probably experienced in one way or another. After engaging and doing deep dive research with HPREP, I believe I ve learned to be more out spoken about my ideas and thoughts. HPREP has helped me become an overall better spokesperson which I hope to apply to this project along by research. I also was inspired by the story of my mother and her diagnosis of lupus back in 2017 where she experienced very severe symptoms. My mother motivated me to change and commit myself to academics and understand health issues like Impostor Syndrome. Please reference "Find My Passions" under "Project Exploration" for more of the story.

Josiah Rondon

I am from New Haven, Connecticut and where I was born and raised. Both of my parents share a puerto rican background. My time as a child from what I remember was joyful and a lot of learning. The moments I remember and look back at most often are ones with my brothers and grandparents. I was always fed "grown up" food as a child like rice and beans, crab and other things. I also remember vaguely my grandmother giving me black coffee with soda crackers and butter. To this day this is always a treat for me. I remember most of my time spent in my youth was with family, my brothers and I did a lot of silly things and my mother did the best to improvise and hide a lot of the struggles as a family that we suffered. My environment was always around other ethnic minorities. Even then and now I see violence, but I've reached a point in my life where I don't want to be a product of my environment; not taking away from the fact that I am a minority. I am the middle child on my mother's side and describe as the "peacemaker". My family often says I'm a blessing, helpful, loving, amazing and I take these things into consideration. The biggest part of my life is God, as I plan to stay committed to God and my motive is to make sure I walk my life to please the Lord in my actions and my speech. I'm currently committed to a lot of things, for instance, I am part of SquashHaven that helps me academically and also in squash. SquashHaven has helped guided me into being accepted to Connecticut College where I plan to spend my next four years, being part of the class of 2026.

Final Project

In the end, I found this capstone project to be most challenging in my entrepreneurial experimentation, particularly finding the correct formula to create the eraser I was looking for, which would be sustainable, environmentally friendly and made with inexpensive materials. Although I acquired the proper ingredients to make Erazer, Im still unable to accomplish in making a functional eco-friendly eraser. Im able to take away, despite these challenges that though I was unsuccessful in its making, I've obtained a better understanding in entrepreneurship and some of my hard skills. Im pleased to have had some many people interested in my project and it's process, Im particularly grateful and I thank all those who have responded to my google form and those who I have interviewed. Although I already knew Impostor Syndrome is not publicly known as other disorders or diseases, I've learned that due to it being undermined its what keeps individuals trapped and not identify the Syndrome in there lives.

Project Overview

Project Inspiration

Josiah Rondon

Final Project

Attachments