Growth Mindset....what is it? It's really important, that's what it is. I will talk about it but the main thing to remember is THE POWER OF YET.

One night I was freaking out about some quiz I ended up doing well on. I didn't want to fail so, even though I knew I couldn't do anything about it, I still panicked. I consoled in a friend of mine who told me about something called growth mindset. It was just a random topic to keep my mind occupied, but it was a learning experience for me.

Growth mindset was basically founded by Dr. Carol Dweck, a psychology professor at Stanford University. She is known for her studies in this field, so much that she even has a TED Talk on it.

I'll sum up the talk for those who want a student's insight on this. I think it is SUPER USEFUL and SUPER IMPORTANT to today's education system. I feel as if we all are put on this metaphorical pedestal saying that we MUST succeed as soon as possible. But, I'm telling you, educators, parents, friends, my fellow peers, listen to this woman, she is phenomenal.

Dweck tells people to think of things in a different perspective. Instead of "the glass half full-half empty" scenario, think of it like "I haven't filled it up yet," or, "I have not finished it yet." Notice the word yet. It indicates that our journey of doing something in order to succeed is possible with time.

It is never too late for anyone to practice growth mindset. In fact, as an eighteen-year-old I still do it. I also see my older sister use this method without even knowing what it is, and my parents, and my grandparents, and my peers and so on. Not only does this motivate someone to want to continue what is in the way of success, it makes them believe that they can do it. And in this world we live in, a little bit of hope won't hurt us.

I hope sharing this has made people think a little more about what it means to use the word yet.

For example:

"I failed" can turn into, "I haven't finished, yet."

"I can't solve this algebraic problem" can turn into, "I haven't figured it out, yet."

"I'll never lose weight" can become, "Well, nothing has worked yet, maybe I can try something new."

Readers, do you see what the power of one syllable, three letter word can do to an individual. It allows us to keep pushing. Or, in the words of Dory, just keep swimming.

Because none of us have finished what we sought out to do. We have just yet to accomplish it.