As I delve into what it means to be Adventurous, I need to start with the idea of 'Growth Mindset'. Because being Adventurous, like our other Hobsonville Habits, promotes 'Growth Mindset'.
Growth Mindset?
- Best summed up by two of our students, based on the work of Carol Dweck:
"People with a growth mindset tend to learn from criticism, have a great sense of free will and embrace challenges. They are resilient, adventurous, curious, contributive, creative, responsive, reflective and purposeful. They have a passion for learning, not a hunger for approval. They know that their traits could be developed and enhanced through dedication and effort."
In this 5 minute clip, Carol Dweck explains Growth vs Fixed Mindset:
Growth mindset: the belief that talents and abilities can be cultivated. A view that promotes the taking on of challenges in the face of obstacles. That effort is what makes you smarter and better.
Fixed mindset: challenges and obstacles are threatening to ones sense of ability. Even effort is a threat, because there is the belief that things come naturally, therefore if effort is required, you must not be good at it. A "You've either got it our you don't" attitude!
It's also important to note, that you can have different mindsets for different things / contexts / modes. To be honest, there's not a day that doesn't go by where my mindset isn't tested. The challenge is to be able to call yourself on your fixed mindset and identify how growth might occur.
For me, our Hobsonville Habit Adventurous = 'Growth Mindset'.
While our Habits are set in concrete - literally (posted on our stairwell!), the unpacking and development of them will always be ongoing and evolving as we explore what they mean for us as learners.
Currently, our definition of Adventurous is: I am willing to take risks and look for opportunities which may not yet exist. I give everything a go.
Other language / characteristics associated with 'Adventurous are:
enterprising, dream big, innovative, risk taking, pro-active, always a learner, leader, team-builder, catalyst, resourceful, social and economical awareness, creative, motivated, high expectations, mastery, rigour, challenging , authentic, quality, leadership, agency, mana motuhake, competitive...
Being Adventurous is, as Carol Dweck says, taking on challenges in the face of obstacles. Obstacles might be personal, physical, mental or emotional. In my previous blog I wrote about being adventurous in pursuing passions and this being more than just doing what you love, but continually finding new challenges and pushing yourself out of your comfort zone in the process. This certainly happened for me in my pursuit of Adventure Racing and taking part in a 7 day race - GODZone (story still to be told!).
During the school holidays I got to spend time with family and was reminded that being Adventurous, has the same characteristics (challenge, obstacles, risk taking, etc...), but looks different for each of us. You don't have to go out and do a multi-day adventure race, to be adventurous!
My mum epitomises the habit Adventurous. I was lucky enough to be with her at the NZ Creative Fibre awards in Rotorua where she had 4 pieces in the exhibition and a garment in the Fashion Show (which took out two of the major awards). No surprises really - Mum has always been passionate about design and is an amazing knitter, sewer, designer, creator ... What was inspiring was that all her pieces were Harakeke (flax weaving). The table that we sat with asked if I took after my mum. I replied, "no - definitely not, I'm not creative" (very fixed mindset of me). One of the replies I got was, "anyone can learn if they set their mind to it." And she was right, because 8 years ago when my Mum and Dad moved to Opotiki, Mum probably didn't know what Harakeke was, let alone be able to pronounce it. But her passion for the arts and her passion for learning saw her push all her comfort zone boundaries and immerse her self in a 3 year course, learning the art of Harakeke. The course is over, but Mum is always learning, not just weaving, but about Tikanga, Te Reo. The beauty of being Adventurous is that the characteristics you develop transfer into all areas of your life and become who you are rather than just what you do.
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| Bev Vellenoweth creations |
Be Adventurous: Explore what you are interested in / what you love / what you are passionate about. Continually ask yourself how you can take it to a level where you feel uncomfortable and uncertain - take risks! Don't stop learning.
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