Growth Mindset: Sharing Thoughts with a Friend

I decided to talk about the Growth Mindset with a friend, since I feel like everyone should learn about the Growth Mindset sooner than later. And college is the perfect time to learn about it, so we can all implement these ideas in the rest of our classes and in the work force when we graduate!

My friend had never heard of the Growth Mindset, so I explained Carol Dweck's video that we watched at the beginning of class. I explained the part where students all over are in this competition to get the highest grades, when in reality, we should all be trying to understand the material at hand (since that's what we're here for in the first place). 

My friend agreed that we should be trying to focus on learning instead of simply obtaining the letter grade we want. However, he stated that it would be extremely difficult to get that ball rolling, since we have been doing it this way for so long. Even if you do get the ball rolling, there would be a lot of discrimination against the idea and many people may not want to do it that way. A lot of people may ask why we can't just be doing it the way we have been, since so many people have succeeded for so long this way. He stated that the only way to do that would be creating a college with no letter grades and simply basing their intellectual level off of what experiences they have. That way, when they go into the work force, the employers know what they can and can't do, instead of just looking at one test score that may not truly reflect the abilities of the candidate. 

Source: Very relatable quote, as a path with no obstacles is not a path of learning.

Growth Mindset: Mantras and Mottos

This is one of my favorite quotes and it is something I relate to/use a lot. You only get out, what you put into it. 

Source: Don't expect more until you do more.

I like this quote because it shows that if you only put in 50% in something you do (such as an assignment or studying for a test), you will only get that much out of it. Of course, there are those times you will get lucky and end up getting a high score on a quiz or test you barely studied for, but then again, what are you really gaining if you haven't learned anything?

Similarly, I like to use this when I lead a group (ex. Camp Crimson, Big Event, Soonerthon, etc.). I always say to my group: you only get out what you put into it, so if you give it your all and are engaged the whole time, I'm sure you'll love it!

Thoughts on the Growth Mindset

The first time I heard about Carol Dweck was last semester (I took the Indian Epics class and we watched the videos in there too). I really do love what she said because it is so relatable to our world today and education in general. Many aspects of education have become such a competitive sport, where everyone is competing for a letter grade, a rank, or a spot in an institution. Instead, we should be trying to understand the material, grasp the main concepts of what we are learning, and learn how to apply it to our daily lives. I love the classes in which we learn something from a textbook or from a lecture, and then later on we see how useful that information was. Those classes are the best, because you see that you actually learned something useful. No matter what grade you got in the class, it's always exciting to recall something you learned from a class you took a long time ago to something you need at a particular moment. 

Last year when I did this assignment, I had written about a challenge I had about the fear of failing, which leads me to stress about how to balance good grades, sleep, a social life, and extracurricular activities. That still applies, although I learn new ways on how to manage my time every semester. Another challenge I have is getting distracted often. It's hard not to get distracted when new technology and social media outlets keep developing. I check my phone way more often that I would like to admit. However, apps like Pocket Points that reward you for not using your phone are a true blessing, so that has helped me keep my distractions in check.

Source: A reminder that challenges aren't always bad :)

I would definitely be more interested in learning about the growth mindset this semester, as well as trying out some of the challenges along the way! My academic goal for this semester is getting a 4.0 GPA while also finding time to do all of the things I love. I am really excited for this class, as well as my Religion and Nationalism in India class - cultural classes are always my favorite because there are so many fascinating things to learn! I hope to use the things I learned from the Growth Mindset in all of my classes, as well as when I prepare for medical school.