Meet Cathy Ferrell

We recently connected with Cathy Ferrell and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Cathy, thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

Imposter syndrome is something that many people struggle with, but can be very isolating. Getting involved in community and listening to other people’s stories helps me work through this. For most of my life, I have enjoyed writing, but I never took myself seriously as a poet. Why would anyone be interested in hearing what I had to say? I began building my writing community and developing friendships with other poets, participating in group readings, and attending workshops. This helped me learn and grow, which gave me confidence, but also helped me get out of my own head because I discovered that many people had similar insecurities. So much so, that some well-respected poets even hosted a panel on overcoming imposter syndrome at a writing conference I attended. I was grateful to them for being so honest and vulnerable about something many of us struggle with but often don’t even recognize for what it is–fear. So my advice to myself (and to anyone who needs it) is get involved, learn from others, and don’t forget to share your own expertise so you can help someone else who may be feeling that they just don’t measure up. You know, because you’ve been there.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am a poet, writer, and educator from Florida. I am the granddaughter of Cuban immigrants, and their stories often inform my writing. I also find inspiration in walking (anywhere) and the Sandhill cranes in my yard. My background in Early Childhood Education and Reading has given me a keen appreciation for the playful nature of language and phonetics. I am currently focused on finding a home for my debut poetry manuscript, “Scars and Songs.” My work can be found at The Orchards Poetry Journal, Santa Clara Review, Compulsive Reader, and other literary journals. I am an alumna of the Tupelo Press 30/30 Project, and am an Associate Editor for table//FEAST Literary Magazine. I have been a public school educator since 2006. My previous roles have included early childhood classroom teacher, reading intervention instructor for secondary students with reading challenges, and new teacher mentor. I currently serve as an education consultant and high school literacy coach. Readers can connect with me at ferrellwords.com.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three qualities that have been integral in my journey are Resilience, Lifelong Learning, and Joy. I often struggle with perfectionism and imposter syndrome. Flipping my perspective and looking at challenges as exciting opportunities to learn help keep me going when I want to give up. When I focus on the journey and celebrate small wins, I find much more joy in the process.

Any advice for folks feeling overwhelmed?

Organizing big tasks into smaller, actionable steps helps me feel less overwhelmed. I like using simple checklists. Depending on my energy level or headspace, I decide whether I want to tackle the most important task first, or get a few of the easiest items done. It’s satisfying to check items off the list, and little by little the larger goal gets accomplished.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://ferrellwords.com
• Instagram: @cathysocarrasferrell

Image Credits

Cathy Socarras Ferrell