As I look back over the past 8 weeks of being a student here at UNE, I’ve come to understand some of my personal passions, specifically my love for the Earth and nature. I used this passion in Project 1 when I created my goals, and am currently applying it to my 2nd project as I look forward to meeting with Professor Woodworth about the environmental studies major. Unrelated to school, I’ve also learned how to be independent and how to embrace solitude over loneliness. Before I came to UNE I had a very tough year. I was depressed and in toxic relationships. I began to heal before I got here but still had a long way to come. I feel like I have made progress in my journey. The symptoms of my PTSD have improved dramatically, and I’ve discovered comfort on this campus. I’ve spent many hours with myself off campus going for drives, sightseeing, and hiking, and by doing this I have found a deeper connection with myself and my passions. I’ve found things that make me feel alive again, and things to be passionate about.

I think Carol Dweck’s “growth mindset” empowers kids through failures, and as Bain writes, “People who become highly creative and productive learn to acknowledge their failures, even to embrace them, and to explore and learn from them.” (2). Carol Dweck’s idea supports this shifting mindset around “loss” and “failure,” and encourages these to be used as a tool or a stepping stone, as Bain concludes is one of the most important phases in life for success.