During high school I took two years of physics, the first year was manageable, it was quite fun and I enjoyed all the topics. The second year was the opposite, I struggled a lot towards the end of the first semester and throughout the rest of the year. I had difficulty finishing the assignments and had to rely on others. I decided to take physics again because I thought I would be able to handle it as I did so well the first year. After the first semester of the second year, one of my friends dropped the course because she was in the same spot as me, she couldn’t understand the topics really well and often fell behind. I almost dropped it as well, but I wanted to continue because I was already halfway through. I am not sure if this would be considered a growth mindset or a fixed mindset, I knew I wouldn’t be able to keep up, but I also didn’t want to quit.
I tried to convince my friend to stay, telling her the same things I told myself, but she did not budge. I assumed that she wasn’t strong willed to stay in the course, but we are two different people. Meaning different perspectives, knowledge, and personalities. In this specific situation, I needed all the help I could get. Even when my peers or teacher tried to explain a certain topic, I would go online for more information (websites, videos, worksheets). Normally, I would not ask for additional assistance, but I was comfortable with my peers and teachers, I knew them for a long time, so I did not think of it as a vulnerability- which I normally would.
I tend to be a very introverted person, so I usually keep to myself. However, when I see someone struggling with something I can help, I reach out to them. For example, in high school I joined a club called “Link Crew”, its goal was to help incoming freshmen. I would help them find their class or any other place. Occasionally, I would also offer to tutor after school to help them with homework. Whenever I was not in Link Crew, I was helping out in the “Camelback Food Bank”. This was an organization at my school, and its purpose was to assist the community and families with food, clothes, shoes, and other necessities. I had been participating since my freshman year and was good friends with the liaison. She would trust me to run the food bank when she was not there. I would explain how everything worked and supervise over new volunteers, as well as invite new people who needed community service hours or people willing just to help.
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