I have definitely been pushed to be more creative in this class, which is not always comfortable to me. I have such a fear of putting myself and my work out in the open, and creative stories seem so much more personal than an ordinary analytical essay. By reading other students' stories, it has definitely made me want to write better and to be more creative. I am still very reserved when it comes to taking risks. I love trying new things, however I am always scared of failure. I still have to keep in mind Carol Dweck's mindset of learning and growing rather than succeeding. This class has definitely helped me want to hear criticism, as it is what will make me better. Positive feedback is great to hear and very encouraging, but it doesn't grow you. When I take that criticism and use it to better my work, it will help make me a better writer in the end. I certainly still have problems pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and this class has helped me to put myself out in the open.
I've considered for so long to become a writer, and while I am definitely have a lot of growing to do, I do hope this class will help in improving my writing ability and pushing me to do things I would not normally do. I hope to continue focusing on learning and to never give up. If I cease trying, I will never achieve what I want. I also hope to put into practice this mindset in other classes and in life itself to become the best I can. I can certainly work on accepting criticism better in my other classes and in life.
Image information: "Criticism" posted by Saunder G. on a Wikipedia page for his high school honors course. Web source: WHS Honors
This is my first time hearing about Carol Dweck and her growth mindset theory. It is a really fascinating way of looking at education, and one I had honestly never thought of before. I myself have always striven for A's in all my classes, and if I do not achieve them, I am devastated. I have gotten to the point where if I truly enjoyed the class and felt I learned a great deal, I can accept a B. However, I think focusing more on growing rather than passing is a much better perspective.
I am not a fan of hard work, though when I do it, I feel very accomplished, whether that be school, or work, or life in general. After hearing what Dweck has said about learning, I realized I should be looking at this as a growth experience, one that will make me smarter and a better human being. I want to be able to seek out challenges, because they will make me stronger, no matter the outcome. This is a good perspective to keep in mind as I go throughout this class and other classes. They are there to make me better, and I should be excited for that. I hope to keep this mindset and learn more about it throughout this semester.
