LYNX LIFE LIBRARY

Back in the spring term of 2025, I remember entering my quantitative research methods course with a lot of fear. You see, I hadn't taken a math class since high school, and the last time I had taken a statistics-based course, I had nearly cried each day because it just wouldn't "stick" for me. At 18, I had decided I simply wasn't good at math.

However, that all changed after taking Dr. Courtney Donovan's class. From the beginning, Dr. Donovan set the class up with a growth mindset approach to employing statistical analysis and utilizing new tools to analyze our data. She shared that having a fear of statistics was pretty normal, and that everyone had the chance to be able to do statistical analysis. Throughout the semester, she was extremely encouraging to all of us in the course, and would share different ways of thinking about formulas, analyzing the numbers our reports gave out, and how to make sense of the information in a real-world context. 

As of 2026, I can confidently say I love quantitative research. 

This example is how we can reframe our brains from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset while we are in college and beyond. One of the leading researchers on growth mindset, Dr. Carol Dweck, found that students who apply a growth mindset to learning and challenges tend to have higher rates of resiliency when it comes to being successful in college. As Dr. Dweck notes in her book, Mindset: The New Psychology of Success, we all fall into patterns of fixed and growth mindsets throughout our lives. However, the more we understand these ways of thinking, the more we can reframe how we approach learning, new challenges, and uncertainty. 

In working with our students at CU Denver, we sometimes see fixed mindsets show up in the following ways: 

• Students choosing not to read feedback from their professors on their essays or tests 
  
• Students not engaging in coursework or their assigned readings because they don’t think the work has any immediate impact on their lives or skills
  
• Students not asking for help, not participating in class, or not asking a question because they think they will be seen as "not smart enough"

It's easy to fall into a fixed mindset—I do it too! Some phrases that come up for me that signal I am in a fixed mindset include: 

• "I've never been good at this"
• "I don't think this is going to help me"
• "This is a dumb question"

Just like forming new habits, being able to recognize fixed mindsets and reframe them into a growth mindset approach takes time. However, the more you train your brain, the easier it becomes to approach new challenges, situations, or experiences with a growth mindset. 

Below are some phrases you can use to reframe your mindset:

• "I wasn't good at this before, but if I try it now, I bet I can learn something new"
• "I'm not sure what this will do for me, but if I pay more attention and lean in to the learning, I bet I will find a way to apply it to my work"
• "This is scary, but if I ask the question, I will be able to understand the material"
• "This is new, and it's not something I've done before, but how exciting to be able to try something new and see what I learn!"

In late 2025, I decided my new saying for 2026 was "be curious". The inspiration for this outlook started back in 2023, when I began my doctoral program. In one of our first courses, an alum of the program came to speak to us. When he was asked what he did differently to approach being a doctoral student while working full-time, he shared that he realized this was the last time he was going to be able to be a student. So, knowing this was his last degree, he approached each course with excitement and enthusiasm for having the chance to continue learning for this time period. He encouraged us to lean into the joy of learning and discovery as we continued through the program. 

Since then, I have leaned into being curious. Whether it’s a new initiative, a new class, or reading a new research article, I try to be curious in how I approach it. Instead of coming in with pre-made assumptions about myself, my skills, or what this new situation will do, I go in asking, "what are the possibilities" and "what can I learn from this". This approach has not only made me a more critical thinker and researcher, but also a better teammate, coworker, and teacher. 

As you head into 2026, I hope you explore how you might approach your courses, work, and experiences with a growth mindset and a goal of being more curious. The more open you are to these experiences, the more opportunities you will have to be successful at CU Denver and beyond!