Week 14 Growth Mindset: Use your Brain...Draw and Color!

This week, I chose to look back at the Growth Mindset memes for my challenge, and I was so happy to see this cat representing Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences! I read his theory last semester and revisited it very recently. I've been doing my best to expand my mastery of all of my intelligences! This cat meme was perfect for this week because, for the first time, I tried to learn to draw calligraphy! I found that I'm not very good at it yet, but coloring in my adult coloring book helped me feel better about my efforts afterward!

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Week 13 Growth Mindset: Enjoy the Ride!

This week,  I have been in a flurry thinking about all of the final papers to complete, all of the to-do list boxes to be checked, and the meetings that I need to attend.  Then, this weekend, I realized that graduation is only three short weeks away. I knew this calendar wise, but I had not stopped to consider that it also meant that I had three weeks left of living with my roommates and best friends of four years, exploring campus at night, and making midnight sonic runs during an all-nighter. Of course, I will keep working hard at all of my responsibilities. However, it's also time to take in this time that I will never have again. Like this cat, I'm going to enjoy the ride as much as I will enjoy celebrating my accomplishments in three short weeks! 

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Week 12 Growth Mindset: Resiliency

For this week's Growth Mindset Challenge, I read the article "How People Learn to Become Resilient" by Maria Konnikova in The New Yorker.

As I continue to face the crazy game of law school admissions, it's more important than ever that  retain a growth mindset. One quote that really struck me was that, "one of the central elements of resilience, Bonanno has found, is perception: Do you conceptualize an event as traumatic, or as an opportunity to learn and grow?"

What an interesting and productive way to view our stressors!

However, it is only natural that even a resilient person can differ in their reaction to stress from time to time. Sometimes, resiliency is difficult. So, there is hope even when you let rejection or difficulty get to you personally. There is still opportunity to learn from that, too!

Ultimately, the article teaches that, regardless of our background, we can teach ourselves resilience. We can always strive to adopt a growth mindset!

Resiliency is everywhere!
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Week 11 Growth Mindset: Opportunity Kittens!

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These precious (and inspiring!) kittens are from the class growth mindset blog! I've looked through the memes tons of times, but this week, these kittens had the perfect message. As I slowly begin to hear back from law schools, I have to choose to see each admit, wait list, or rejection as an opportunity. If things don't go according to my own plans, it isn't bad, it just means that it is time to look for more opportunities to express my knowledge and be the best that I can be! Plus, I'll be even happier looking for inspiration to keep a growth mindset if I get the see these sweet little faces! :)

Week 7 Growth Mindset: Inside the Mind of a Curious Child

This week for Growth Mindset, I read an article by Maanvi Singh called "What's Going On Inside the Brain of a Curious Child?"

The article was based around the growth mindset idea that, when a person is curious, they will also be engaged. That's why we so enjoy reading for fun or spending hours reading wikipedia articles but are hesitant to complete even a page of a forced article for an uninspiring course.

To test the theory that curiosity encouraged long-term learning, scientists took MRI scans of children who had rated trivia questions based on how curious they were as to the answer. They found that, on questions that they were curious about, the answers lit up the pleasure centers of the brain. Learning was enjoyable! The dopamine released in the brain then aids learning. The interesting twist was that students who were already curious also did better in learning non-interesting things. So, if educators and caretakers encourage curiosity, it follows that students will not only have a love of learning, but will also be more effective learners!

Growing up, I was lucky to have this sense of curiosity valued in my home environment. Every question was valuable!  Of course, not all children have this opportunity at home. I think it is essential that growth mindset and curiosity be instilled at an early age so that students have a strong desire to continue learning -- however they like -- beyond required school.  This article has certainly reminded me about how fun it is to be curious about not only my studies but also the little things around me!

The Curious Brain, as featured in the article
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Growth Mindset: Meme

These past few weeks have come with a lot of challenges! However, I'm choosing to take a cue from my rescue dog, Baxter, and keep a positive attitude regardless of the circumstances! You would never know it, but just before this photo was taken, Baxter was diagnosed with Glaucoma and an Ear Infection. He just keeps smiling, though!

I made this meme using Canva!

Growth Mindset, Week 3

As I read through the Growth Mindset challenges for the semester, I came across the page on Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences theory. I loved getting the chance to look over the infographic (below) and watch the video to learn more!

Types of Human Intelligences by Howard Gardner

So often, we limit ourselves to being confident in one specific area of thinking. For example, I have often said that I am great at reading and analyzing,  but terrible at qaunitfying and interpreting. This kind of speech is a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy. If I say out loud and to myself that I am not good at something, I will not have the confidence and drive to really work toward or try something new. Howard Gardner's theory, to me, shows that we all embody many intelligences at once to accomplish our everyday tasks. So, we truly have the capacity to do anything by using all of our skills! The video specifically highlights that intelligences function most strongly in conjunction with other intelligences. So, in stressful moments of uncertainty, I hope that I will look back at this chart and know that  I am capable of using all of these skills to achieve my goals. Plus, personal growth and confidence is always a great thing!