A Mindset of Learning

Hi! I’m Brooke and I am a senior in high school. I’ve noticed clear indicators delineating success and failure throughout my life. God has shown me through school and sports that you need to embrace failure in order to grow. I have a tendency to find and follow the line which led me toward perfectionist qualities. I strive to write perfect papers, work hard to obtain straight A’s, practice routines for hours, and press myself to achieve in all areas. I like things to be done well, and I shy away from activities and interests I cannot master immediately. Some may think this trait comes from wanting to stand out, but it's actually quite the opposite. I dread drawing attention to myself and have found that by hitting the mark, it’s easier to blend in. In dance, I stand in the back row, matching everyone else’s moves perfectly, while others shine front and center; and in school, I do what’s needed to stay on the honor roll and outside of concern. Life seemed best played safe until sophomore year, when God redirected my life. Going into high school, I had a very clear vision of what the next 4 years were going to look like. I was going to be a cheerleader and part of the dance program. During my sophomore year, I accidentally picked up a new sport and unknowingly floundered miserably at it. God showed me that through the process of failing, success can come and take me to new places that playing it safe never will. 

While exploring track and field in the Spring of my sophomore year, I tried pole vault, jumps, hurdles, and running, but I immediately left each after noticing how much worse I was than those who had been practicing for years (duh). However, with zero reference for what success looked like in discus, I gave myself the grace to try, fail, and try again. When I first started, I knew nothing about discus. I didn’t even know what a discus was. I’d never watched Olympic or collegiate throwers to know what success looked like. I had no perception between a standing throw versus a spin or a throw with good rotation versus a flat one. Unlike many other areas of my life, my ignorance encouraged me to keep trying. During my first competition, I threw by myself due to a scheduling conflict with the high jump. I threw 33 feet and unknowingly came in dead last. Since I had no idea how far everyone else threw, I told everyone, “It went okay; I’ll keep working on it.” I was motivated because I had no idea I was at rock bottom. With a lot of practice and determination, things changed. My dance background gave me a natural spin and I learned how to apply it. I started lifting weights to get stronger. Then I found professional discus coaches to help me. If I’d known how far behind I started, or how long the uphill battle would be, I would’ve never touched a discus; but since I didn’t know, I persevered. And the payoff was huge. My PR last season was 84 feet, and I ranked in the top five throwers in my school’s history after my first season, and I’m already throwing over 100 feet in training today, which should make me the top thrower in my school’s history and a front-runner in my league.

I’m proud of my newfound athletic talent, but I’m even more proud of the lessons that God has taught me about the dangers of perfection and the importance of trusting Him. Everyone has to start somewhere, and comparing myself to others will only limit me. This will not only limit me, but it will also create a barrier between following the plan God has for me. I’m learning to recognize that it doesn’t matter what others think, in track, school, and new hobbies like crochet: there are many holes in my blanket, but it's fine because I’m learning, and I’m developing a mindset that reminds myself it's okay to try, it’s okay to fail, and who knows where I’ll wind up if I keep going. Oftentimes in life, we create a plan in our head without consulting God and praying. It is so important to trust God so He can reveal his plan to us.