Tapping into a Growth Mindset

I feel like I have heard the saying "the beauty is in the process" a lot over the years so it is great to hear someone like Carol Dweck give significant meaning to this phrase. I have never heard of a Growth Mindset as coined by her, but I feel as though I have thought about learning in a similar light at points. I would have to agree that when things are too easy and come without challenge that doesn't do much for growth. Often times I feel as though I grow the most when I make the most mistakes because they inevidably lead to learning different things associated with that mistake. I am glad someone like Carol Dweck is trying to create awareness about the Growth Mindset because I think it could help or education system a lot. I think it could end up developing people that are more resiliant and I think that will prove to be important throughout life.

After thinking about the Growth Mindset and how it relates to collegiate education I do see some issues. One of the biggest complaints I have about college thus far is the lack of one on one help a student can get with someone who can explain a topic to them. College professors do try to go to some lengths to try an give students some resources but I think they are extremely inadequate. I feel like professors are always playing hide the ball with me and trying to weed me out rather than helping contribute to my growth of knowledge. I feel like one of my biggest challenges in college has been trying to figure where I can find the extra help I need to do well in a class. Although, I think the biggest enemy here is TIME. Students who want to have a Growth Mindset in each of their classes I think will have a hard time doing so. Mainly because it seems to me that having a Growth Mindset requires someone to be able to give guidance to the student. Finding someone who is available to guide me in my learning process here in college is no easy task and often times requires a lot of money if that person ends up being a tutor. I think what Carol Dweck is saying is accurate but it  is also extremely frustrating because it feels especially hard to execute a good Growth Mindset at the college level.

I hope this doesn't come off as me sounding like the group that only wants things the easy way, because that is definitely not the case. I just think are education system at the college level is flawed. I also realize that there is probably a huge portion of the student body that would not use extra resources if given. I am applying to physical therapy school right now and I can say I am more excited about that learning process than the undergraduate one. The people I have talked to all say that they finally feel like the professors and staff want to help you try to succeed in your classes. I am both glad and angry to hear that. I am glad because I have something to look forward to now knowing I won't have to run on this same hamster wheel I have been. I am angry because I don't see why undergraduate classes have to be so different!

I admire Carol Dweck and the work she is doing because I think it has a lot of potential to benefit students in the future. I will also try and see where I can afford to spend some time to practice having a Growth Mindset this semester. Last semester I got a tutor for my physics class and approached it in a Growth Mindset way and felt like I did better on the tests because of it. It did however cost me a great deal of money and time. I am not sure yet if I will have enough time to do something similar this semester because I will have a very busy schedule but I am hoping there will be some ways.

I apologize for the rant and I hope I don't come off as a negative nancy. I think Carol Dweck is definitely on to something here and I hope to see her ideas spread like wildfire. I will be praying that professors will join in her efforts to improve education.

This is my mantra most days.
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