Introduction to GRIT I

Grit is a personality trait which is despite having to face challenges and distractions along the way, show passion and perseverance to achieve their goals or objectives. Mind-sets in this case is having preconceived beliefs that can be influenced by our upbringing and environment.

Though grit and mindset have specific concepts on their own, mindset is somewhat related to grit. Grit is the capacity to persevere despite setbacks that are levelled between mild and severe. Grit and fixed mindset are related in a way whereby we think that failures that we encounter are the result of our fixed characteristics.

 “Being naturally talented at studies is the only way I can be good at that studies, and no matter how hard I try, I won’t be able to be excel in my studies like those who are born smart and intelligent.” This is an example of a fixed mindset in which this belief of thinking that fixed traits like talents and abilities cannot be significantly developed. “There is no point in trying to do well at studies by revising the topics that have been taught, ask questions when I do not understand to either our facilitators or peers and expecting a different result.” Fixed mindset is also somewhat not open to changes and in this case, not even trying to change by doing revisions or ask around, and it can be there’s attempt to changes but only a few times, rather than consistently doing the change. 

On the other hand, those with a growth mindset are more likely to be tough and resilient, by attempting with all their might though the progress to be someone good at their studies is small or minor. Yes, talent and intelligence may contribute to achieving success and are great, meanwhile growth mindset cannot make up for lack of talent, but talent is rarely enough without effort, resilience and perseverance which are considered as grit traits.

The formula to success though it may seem simple, but to really execute it in reality is undeniably hard. Efforts, perseverance, resilience as well as growth mindset equates to success for me. Balancing as much nails as possible on a nail- a game that I’ve played before with some of my classmates, which seemed impossible and hilarious honestly when I first heard about it. We attempted to balance the nails in various ways but to no avail. Hence,  I thought to myself since my team and I have tried doing it our ways and there’s still no success, why don’t I try other attempts by looking around and see if the other teams have succeeded and ask them on how they do it, or search on ways to balance them online?

And so, I did both looking at other teams and research on it, eventually we did manage to balance the nails on top of a nail.  What I’ve learnt from this game is that, try as many ways as though it may not be a success, and do not stop though there are other obstacles on top of the main obstacle we have; there were teams who did not manage to balance the nails. The teams that did not manage to do it may influence us in a way that, since there are people who did not succeed though they have tried again and again, so why should I try again and again too when I know that I would not succeed? Hence, it is important to have both resilience and perseverance on top of effort and growth mindset in order to be successful.

                                                      Date: Year 2 Semester 2 (2022)