Week 8 Growth Mindset

Growth:  Pixabay

I have a love/hate relationship with Growth Mindset.  I like the idea and I think it is especially helpful for little kids, but since I never used it growing up, I find it hard to use on myself.  I definitely think I have grown up using some of the characteristics of the program but I still get frustrated sometimes when I am doing something difficult- who doesn't? 

I think I do a lot of the things on the chart in the directions here, but there are some things I don't do very well and need to improve on.  I usually try to do my best work which is above the bare minimum.  I am usually pretty self motivated because I know where the goal is but it can be harder for me when the goal is not in sight.  I am bad about staying in my comfort zone and I need to work on that by trying new things.  I am also bad about focusing on grades- I always want to keep my grades up and I am unhappy with my grades when they aren't good even when I am learning.  However I think that when you are learning the grades are high as a result.  I am not comfortable with change and that is something that I need to work on in school and in life.  If I can try more new things little by  little perhaps I will get used to new things.  I think I have taken a long term view and set good goals for myself and I am working hard on reaching them.  I could work on taking more risks and being more confident, especially when I am writing stories.  I could also work on trying to do harder things and expecting to work hard on them.  I like to do my work and get it done so I have a hard time choosing to do something that is more difficult than it needs to be.  I am usually pretty good about working ahead and not leaving things to the last minute so I don't think I really need to work on that.  I get excited about school when it is a subject that interests me and I am really hoping I get into the dietetics program I applied for because it will be full of subject matter I am truly interested in.  This class has helped me to learn to be open to all feedback, not just positive feedback.  I have also learned that I can learn from my peers and from my mistakes.  I have also learned that I can make a lot of progress in a little amount of time, but I still need to learn to ask more questions. 

Overall, growth mindset is a little bit mixed up for me.  I feel like I have accomplished some of the things that are good for me from this technique, and there are others that I could definitely work on. 

Week 8 Reflections: Halfway done!

The Halfway Point!:  Geograph.org

It has gone fast but here we are- halfway through the semester!! When we wrote our first stories for this class I felt like I was going to be really uncomfortable writing creatively and posting it for everyone to see, but it has actually been fun so far!  I have enjoyed doing the readings for this class and twisting the stories into something new.  Some of my stories in the beginning didn't have very big twists- especially the first one.  I have gotten better at that through the semester and I found out how I like to write stories.  A lot of times I enjoy keeping the characters the same and putting them in a new setting.  I keep the original names so that it is not so confusing for the reader!  I have found that it can be interesting to write for fun and to run a blog. 

I have definitely learned a lot about tech stuff as well!  I never knew that blogging could be so easy and fun.  I was able to learn how to do lots of things on Blogger as well as start a Google Site.  I think these skills will help me in the future for sure!

My favorite reading so far has been the Ramayana.  I thought it was pretty easy to follow and I enjoyed watching Sita Sings the Blues.  I felt like I got my best stories from the inspiration of the Ramayana.  For the rest of the semester I think I will finish up watching the Mahabhrata Epified and then I would like to either read more versions of the Ramayana, find a new book, or read some huge chunks of the stories I chose for my storybook project that I have not read yet. 

I am happy with a lot of my progress writing this semester.  It was difficult in the beginning but it is getting easier. I am happy with how my storybook is turning out but I need to do more planning to make sure the stories I add all fit together well.  I think it will turn out pretty well.  I definitely aspire to write more like some of the people in their class.  I wish I could easily write funny stories that flow well.  Some of my classmates are fantastic writers.  It has been a fun semester so far and I hope to work hard and finish the class up early if possible so I can prepare to graduate!