Week 15 Growth Mindset

So, I feel like part of the whole Growth Mindset business requires sometimes realizing that things can go terribly, awfully, and can be utterly overwhelming. I think the trick is to realize that sometimes it's ok to not be in control.

On  Fire - Gunshow

Week 14 Growth Mindset

For this week, I chose again to make a meme based on some Growth Mindset ideas. I am in the process of finalizing my final semester of college, which will be spent abroad in St. Petersbug, Russia, so I feel like this applies a lot to my life right now!

Transliteration: Oo menya net idei [ee-day-ee] shto ya delayou
Translation: I have no idea what I'm doing.

Made using the Cheezburger maker

Week 13 Growth Mindset

This semester has been my most difficult semester because I'm honestly just ready to be done. I started college at age 16 and will be finishing my main coursework in just a matter of weeks before heading off to spend my last semester in Russia. I've been in school a very long time. What I've found at this point is that all of my previous strategies, motivators, and routines have completely failed me. I maintained a perfect or nearly perfect GPA for most of my school career, and I've realized this semester, that ultimately, my grades are worth only so much to me and they shouldn't really matter to anyone else. My worth is not measured by how many classes I've completed and how many As I've accumulated.

Basically me.

Growth Mindset

I had never heard of Carol Dweck, but I had heard of the growth mindset before, but not necessarily named as such. I had heard of it through just different approaches to learning and teaching, but didn't know it had a name. 

I think I am about midway in the growth-fixed mindset. I tend to enjoy work that challenges me, and have come a long way in how I few my studies. Through high school, my parents were very strict about grades  and I think this affected my mindset greatly. I kept a 4.0 GPA through high school and through my junior year of college, mostly out of fear of failure. I was learning for a grade - not learning for personal growth. 

One of the things that really helped me shift this way of thought was encountering different professors at OU who were very dedicated to helping students learn. I was told, "Never be afraid of making mistakes, because mistakes are just opportunities to learn how to do something differently." 

Since I'm still trying to change my perspectives on learning, I think I would be able to think along the Growth Mindset ideals. I liked the "Stories About Growth" and "Reading Challenge" ideas. I am interested in trying to build my own mental confidence. I'm about to embark to a new country and any mindsets that would help me to appreciate this opportunity and learn the most I can will be good opportunities to consider. 

Dream big and dare to fail, Laura Gibbs, Growth Mindset Memes