Fixed Versus Growth

For a Student Success Seminar, I am currently reading a book entitled Mindset by Carol S. Dweck. At first, I thought the book would be dull explanation of how students need to have a positive attitude to succeed, but the book offers so much more than that. It closely examines two mindsets--the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. From these mindsets, people develop their skills, relationships, and futures. Basically, these mindsets affect your whole life! To see a brief description of these mindsets, click here. While reading this book, I am constantly finding myself trying to decide whether or not I have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset. I am starting to come to a conclusion.

Because of my upbringing in school and the home, I believed that intelligence was a fixed attribute. One could not change his or her intelligence, but only gain knowledge. In the book, the author believes that intelligence can grow as long as the individual puts forth the effort to do it. I am a little skeptical about this, even after seeing a few examples; however, this does encourage me that I could possibly get "smarter." When people with the fixed mindset are given academic gifts, they feel they have to prove their gift while giving minimal effort, and when they fail, their self confidence plummets. In a way, I am somewhat guilty of this. I was considered gifted in the science and math departments, so whenever it came to those subjects in high school, I liked to try to see how little I could do and still get an "A."This was probably not a good idea, but it made life less challenging and made me feel smart. Fortunately, there have been a few times where I have been humbled and received poor grades for my lackluster effort. Because of these failures, I was able to break away from having a completely fixed mindset. People with the growth mindset are able to recover and learn from failures, and I was able to do the same from my failures. Also, I have realized that just trying to slide by will not cut it in college. I know in order to succeed I am going to have to give effort, even if it means life will be a little more challenging.  Due to these statements, I have realized that I possess both mindsets.

Reading this book has caused me to endure self analysis. I have been aware of many of my flaws, but this book has showed me how negatively these flaws can affect my life. I do not know if I will ever completely get away from the fixed mindset, but knowing that I have a little growth mindset in me too is reassuring.