Growth Mindset

Blog about a time when you adopted a growth mindset (maybe you chose it, or maybe it chose you) in order to turn a failure or difficulty into a learning experience.  In other words – when did you have to meet a challenge head on?

What did you learn from the experience?  If you could change something about the experience, would you?  What would you change or do differently if a similar situation were to arise?

Once instance in which I adopted a growth mindset was when I made the decision to enroll in the St. Mary's University M.Ed program.  I had been teaching since 2006, spending one year in a district, then getting cut, and finding a new position at a different district in 2007, where I still teach.  I didn't have any clue as to how one might find a suitable masters program.  What school should I select?  What program might be best for me, as there seem to be a myriad of choices flooding my email inbox?  I was firmly placed in a fixed mindset state because I felt as if there wasn't a way that I could move on from where I was..  It didn't help when my wife and I had two children within 18 months of each other.  The requirements of parenthood, teaching, and coaching left me in a position when I didn't think I would have the time, energy, or mental fortitude to find, let alone successfully complete, a masters program.

But then, something happened.  A colleague of mine started the program I am currently in at St. Mary's University.  Through his encouragement I came to realize that completing the program with my current life schedule might be difficult at times, but certainly not impossible.  Now that I have been in the program for a few months I am feeling even better about my decision.  I know that this course will have its fair share of requirements for my time and energy, but I have quickly come to realize that this process will be good for me and my career.  One occasion that exemplified this fact was when we as a group attended the spring conference of the students that are a year ahead of us in the program.  It was inspiring to hear from those learners what they gained from the program and it gave me some excitement for what the future holds for me.

Presently, as I am still going through the program, I do not have anything that I would change about the experience.  I have truly enjoyed the conversations and discussions I have had with our groups members and facilitators and I'm looking forward to continue to grow as an educator and an individual.