Growth Mindset Practice

Sophia looked at the math problem on her homework sheet as she sat at her desk. She tried her best, but she just couldn't seem to solve the complicated equation that required several steps. The numbers seemed to swirl together in her mind, mocking her failure. She had attempted the problem twice before, and each time the solution was incorrect. Self-doubt and frustration started to creep in. “I’m just not good at math,” she muttered to herself. “Maybe I’ll never get it.”

Leo, her older brother, entered the room and noticed her furrowed brow and slumped shoulders. Leo had always excelled in school, particularly in subjects like math and science. Sophia couldn't help but feel a little jealous of his effortless comprehension of everything. He had always been self-assured and had never let obstacles or setbacks stop him. "What's the matter, Sophia?" While seated next to her, Leo inquired. “I can’t do this math problem,” Sophia replied, her voice tinged with frustration. I've tried it a few times, but I always get it wrong. Simply put, this is not for me. I think my math skills are just bad. Leo smiled gently and shook his head. “You know, Sophia, I used to feel the same way about math. But then I realized something that changed everything for me. Being good or bad at something is irrelevant. It all comes down to your mindset." Sophia looked confused at him. “Mindset? What does it imply?” Leo took a moment to think before leaning back in his chair. “Well, there are two types of mindsets: a fixed mindset and a growth mindset. You have a fixed mindset when you think that your skills are set in stone and that you either have a talent or you don't. It is the idea that you are either good at something or you aren't. Sophia nodded slowly. “That sounds like me. I feel like I’m just not good at math, no matter how much I try.”

Leo once more grinned. I used to think the same thing. However, I later discovered the growth mindset. With a growth mindset, you believe that your abilities can improve with effort and practice. You understand that challenges are part of the learning process, and that mistakes are opportunities to learn and grow.”

Sophia's eyes grew wider. “So you mean, if I keep trying, I can get better at math?”

"Exactly," Leo responded. “The key is to embrace challenges, not avoid them. A growth mindset sees difficulties as opportunities to learn something new. You think, "I haven't figured it out yet, but I will with practice," rather than "I'm bad at this." Sophia’s mind started to shift. So, mistakes are acceptable? “It’s more than okay,” Leo replied. “Mistakes are how you learn. Think of it this way: making a mistake is like finding a missing piece in a puzzle. You learn a little more about what works and what doesn’t. You get closer to the right answer with each error." Sophia exhaled deeply. She had always been afraid of making mistakes, especially in public. The thought of failing had often kept her from trying new things. But what Leo said made sense. She might not have needed to be so afraid of making mistakes if they were just part of the process. “Okay,” she said, determination creeping into her voice. “I’ll give it a try. I won’t give up just because it’s hard.”

Leo gave a proud nod. “That’s the spirit. Let's take it step by step through the problem and see if we can find a solution. Sophia and Leo spent the next hour working through the math problem. It started slowly at first. Sophia made a few more mistakes, which made her feel frustrated at times. But she paused, took a deep breath, and tried again rather than giving up. With Leo’s encouragement, she kept going, analyzing each step and learning from the mistakes she made.

After some trial and error, they finally solved the problem. With joy, Sophia's face lit up. "We got there! I succeeded! Leo smiled. “See? Because you didn't give up, you were able to accomplish it. The power of a growth mindset is that. You accepted the challenge, and as a result, you now know something new. Sophia felt proud as she looked at the solved problem. I can't believe I actually accomplished it. I never thought I would get this right.”

Leo advised, "Remember, it's not about being perfect." Putting in the work and knowing that you can always do better are the keys. If you keep practicing and learning from your mistakes, you’ll get better and better.”

Sophia considered the difficulties she had previously encountered, both inside and outside of school. She had given up on herself at times because she thought she wasn't good enough. But now she knew that the key was to learn from every good and bad experience and not to be perfect. Mrs. Sophia's teacher the next day Martin gave the class a new project to work on. Each student was required to research and present a topic for the group assignment. Sophia felt a flicker of nervousness in her chest. Group projects always made her anxious. What if she made a mistake in front of everyone? What if she wasn’t good enough to contribute to the group?

But then she thought back to what Leo had told her about having a growth mindset. She exhaled deeply and told herself that making mistakes was a part of the process. She would overcome obstacles with determination and gain knowledge from them. She just had to keep trying—she didn't have to be perfect. Sophia offered to manage the research for her group. She encountered new obstacles as she gathered information and prepared her notes. She had times when the research did not appear to fit together or she was unable to locate the appropriate sources. Sophia, on the other hand, did not give up and instead focused on learning from each challenge. She continued moving forward, made adjustments, and asked for assistance when she needed it. On the day of the presentation, Sophia felt a mixture of nerves and excitement. As she stood in front of the class, she remembered Leo’s words: “It’s not about being perfect. It’s about putting in the effort.” She shared her research with the class and responded to questions with confidence. When the presentation was over, Mrs. Martin smiled and gave the group his approval. “Great work, everyone. Sophia, your approach to the research particularly impressed me. You rose to challenges with such tenacity, and it paid off handsomely. Sophia exuded a beam of pride. She had pushed through her fear and embraced the growth mindset. She had gained a great deal of knowledge throughout the process, despite the fact that the project was not perfect. Sophia put the growth mindset into practice every day after that. She learned to embrace challenges, knowing that every difficulty was an opportunity to grow. She no longer feared making mistakes; rather, she saw them as opportunities to grow. And with each new challenge, she became more confident in her ability to learn, grow, and succeed.

Sophia grinned as she sat down to work on her next math problem. It wasn’t about getting everything right on the first try. It was about trying, learning, and getting better—one step at a time.