How 8th Graders Can Use Summer to Cultivate a Growth Mindset
by David H. N., PhD
The transition between 8th grade and high school is big time of change for teens, which is why the summer before 9th grade is the perfect time to start making behavioral changes that set you up for growth.
As humans, we behave according to what we believe. If you don’t believe that you can learn something new, improve at something, or be good at something, you won’t even put in the effort to do it.
Pick a Chore That You Don’t Like to Do and Do It Well
Every great student needs to have the emotional maturity to practice self-discipline. You need to be able to say “no” to fun, easy things that you like to do, so that you can say “yes” to difficult, boring things. So much of success depends not on talent, but on your ability to do the difficult things that you don’t want to do.
Thus, pick a chore that you dislike doing. Then do it regularly and do it well. Ask your parents for feedback on whether you’re doing it well. Do this every day for three months and see how it transforms the rest of your life.
Learn a New Skill and Devote 30 Minutes Per Day to It
Summer is a great time to learn a new skill, such as a traditional art (painting, sculpting, dancing, etc.) or a digital art (graphic design, video editing, photography, etc.).
Devote 100 hours to anything and you will become good at it. Spend at least 30 minutes per day developing this skill. The discipline you develop during the summer will open your eyes to your potential during the school year.
Create Your Own Story, Show, Webcomic, or Cartoon Series
Many teens have favorite anime shows, movies, or cartoon series. A great way to grow in your creative ability is to create your own story. You can do this by writing the background story, the script, or drawing the storyboard. Look up “how to” articles for guidelines for anything you create. Making your own project will help sharpen your skills.
Try Something That You Are Afraid to Do
Some students are very shy and need to practice talking to strangers. One technique to overcome this shyness is to practice asking strangers in public for directions. Even though you know where the closest 7-Eleven is, asking strangers for directions is a great way to develop the courage to talk to people. “Hi. Would you happen to know where the closest 7-Eleven is?” The great thing is that even if they are mean to you, you will likely never see them again.
Growth should not be an accidental thing that surprises you. You can control your mindset such that you keep growing into your true, best self.
Follow these tips to prove to yourself how well my advice works!
