When she was a child math was the hardest subject for her. Because of her fascination and great interest in art, and when math doesn’t come to her naturally, she immediately assume that she is not talented in math. The situation was odd in how it assumes if one is successful in one, she is to be unsuccessful in the other. However, she didn’t realize anything out of ordinary in this way of thinking. So, after a while she gave up, with all these messages she got from her peers, teachers and test results that math is not her subject. Her first low grade was from Math in her report card which was devastating for her. The urban myth took over her wit.

Prof. Carol Dweck’s findings on mindsets psychological trait and their pedagogical implications have quite profound insight into interpreting this story. Here, we saw expression of a fixed mindset. What would change if a student had a growth mindset? Let’s take a step back and define them and explore what might happen.

Someone with a fixed mindset would think abilities depend on some innate ability. The one with a growth mindset, on the other hand, would think that abilities are something that grow through practice. In fixed mindset, the effect of failure is huge because you tied that failure directly to your identity, that you fail permanently and completely. For someone with a growth mindset, the failure wouldn’t be such a serious existential issue, because it doesn’t say to her “you failed”, but merely “not yet“.

One great advice she gives to parents to nurture growth mindset is the following. I believe it’s equally relevant for educators:

If parents want to give their children a gift, the best thing they can do is to teach their children to love challenges, be intrigued by mistakes, enjoy effort, and keep on learning. That way, their children don’t have to be slaves of praise. They will have a lifelong way to build and repair their own confidence.

Carol Dweck

The idea that the F she got at the end of the term defines so much about her is debilitating. The overarching consequences of that failure in our education system strengthens this anxiety as well. Thinking that education is a continuum and an ongoing journey is liberating. Nonetheless, it’s a mindset that needs nourishment and care. Carol Dweck gives a motivational vision: “Picture your brain forming new connections as you meet the challenge and learn. Keep on going.” No worries, anyone who have lost it along the road can grow this mindset in time.