Our Nation’s 30th president, Calvin Coolidge said “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent”. There are various interpretations in today’s world about what it means to be intelligent. A common misconception is that intelligence is interchangeable with intellect. Intellect is, of course, the measurable faculty of abstract or academic matters, which is easily defined by the numerous standardized tests that are widely used by virtually every academic institution. Despite the fact that there is nothing wrong with testing methods such as the SAT, I do not believe that they are a measure of intelligence. Rather, intelligence
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“The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset,” she explains in her book: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. (Dweck 7) Individuals who possess a fixed mindset believe that intellect and talent are inherited traits, and having these traits are the only factor in success. However, people with a growth mindset believe that talent and intellect can be honed with dedication and hard work. The basic premise behind her book is that, in order for a person to truly believe they can get smarter, they must first understand that effort is required. Growth mindset enables a person to come to terms with their deficiencies instead of hiding them. Intelligence is not defined by one’s current abilities, rather, it is the willingness to exhibit a substantial amount of effort into being capable of more. This involves being able to recognize your own shortcomings and adjusting …show more content…
Like many students, math has always been my downfall. Yet, I recognized my weakness and I took the necessary steps in order to overcome this trial. My professor often assigns every other odd problem from whatever section we happen to be working in that day as homework. I have taken it upon myself to do every odd problem, or even every problem some days in order to benefit from the extra practice. On the days leading up the midterm, I have created my own tests which consist of types of problems that I had the most difficulty solving. My dedication was rewarded when I was able to complete the midterm with ease. The idea that hard work increases intellect was further cemented when my professor returned the graded midterms. I was one of two students to score 100 percent. This is a great example of how I showed intelligence through willingness to
“The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even when it’s not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset,” she explains in her book: Mindset: The New Psychology of Success. (Dweck 7) Individuals who possess a fixed mindset believe that intellect and talent are inherited traits, and having these traits are the only factor in success. However, people with a growth mindset believe that talent and intellect can be honed with dedication and hard work. The basic premise behind her book is that, in order for a person to truly believe they can get smarter, they must first understand that effort is required. Growth mindset enables a person to come to terms with their deficiencies instead of hiding them. Intelligence is not defined by one’s current abilities, rather, it is the willingness to exhibit a substantial amount of effort into being capable of more. This involves being able to recognize your own shortcomings and adjusting …show more content…
Like many students, math has always been my downfall. Yet, I recognized my weakness and I took the necessary steps in order to overcome this trial. My professor often assigns every other odd problem from whatever section we happen to be working in that day as homework. I have taken it upon myself to do every odd problem, or even every problem some days in order to benefit from the extra practice. On the days leading up the midterm, I have created my own tests which consist of types of problems that I had the most difficulty solving. My dedication was rewarded when I was able to complete the midterm with ease. The idea that hard work increases intellect was further cemented when my professor returned the graded midterms. I was one of two students to score 100 percent. This is a great example of how I showed intelligence through willingness to