Growth Mindset
at the Middle School By Marita Seaton, Leader of Learning (4-8)
My daughter loves the story of Eddie the Eagle. She is inspired by the heart-warming efforts of this awkward, short-sighted man and his place in history, having competed as Britain’s sole ski jumper in the 1988 Calgary Olympics. As the first competitor since 1928 to represent Great Britain in ski jumping, Michael “Eddie” Edwards competed in the 70 and 90-metre events and finished last in both. Obviously, it isn’t his results that inspire young Australians 30 years later, it is the sheer effort that it took to get there in the first place. “Eddie the Eagle” Edwards, loved by some and ridiculed by others, was the embodiment of true grit and determination. Watching his story on a rainy afternoon, it occurred to me that Michael Edwards demonstrated many of the strengths
The story of Eddie the Eagle was turned into a film in 2016.
18 Ad Astra Issue No 136
that are attributed to learners with a “growth mindset”. He embraced challenges and was capable of persisting over long periods of time. To reach goals, he actively sought feedback and advice from experts and understood that mastery could only be obtained with effort. Underpinning each of these mindsets however, was an unshakable belief that everyone, regardless of starting points, is capable of significant growth. Simply put, he never gave up. He believed that he could change his most basic characteristics. The history books are full of individuals who overcame great adversity to eventually succeed, but Eddie’s is a tale of growth. Each of us has experienced failure at some point in our lives and to be perfectly honest, it’s not great. We associate failure with embarrassment and disappointment, but what if we could stop seeing it as a final destination and instead embrace it as a source of inspiration and information; a way forward?
