Persatuan Kemajuan Insan (KESAN) began its ‘Top Student Series’ programme with an interactive workshop on Growth Mindset.
The programme aimed to equip ‘A’-Level students with knowledge and vital skills to nurture their development as well as to enhance their academic experience.
Fifteen students from Sixth Form Centres in Brunei participated.
Participants engaged in activities designed to increase their awareness and instil the value of Growth Mindset to become successful individuals.
Facilitator Abdul Hannan bin Haji Abdul Ghani said, “Mindset plays a significant role in determining long-term success. We should treat our failures as opportunities for us to learn and grow—that is the essence of Growth Mindset.”
He highlighted the difference between Growth Mindset and Fixed Mindset based on Praise and Mindsets research by Carol Dweck, a professor at Stanford University.
Learners with Fixed Mindset believe that intelligence and skills are innate; they tend to stay interested in learning only when they have performed well as a testament to their innate abilities. These learners would immediately feel discouraged and would lose their enjoyment in learning if they found a task difficult.
On the other hand, learners with Growth Mindset are more willing to take on challenging tasks. When faced with failures, they would analyse their mistakes, process it and correct it. By applying Growth Mindset, learners would achieve a more worthwhile success in the long run.
“New abilities can be developed through practice, as long as we focus on the process,” elaborated Abdul Hannan, “The setbacks we face are all part of the process for us to hone our skills and achieve our goals.”
There are many influential figures who became successful after living through multiple failures, including contemporary and Islamic historical figures to whom we should learn from”, he said.
The workshop continued with discussions on how to develop Growth Mindset as well as the misconceptions of Growth Mindset. Interactional activities were conducted throughout the workshop to engage and help deepen the participants’ understanding of the theme.
“Through the activities and the talk, we hope that the participants will be able to apply Growth Mindset not only in their academic, but also in their daily life,” said Project leader of the programme Amir Abdul Aziz bin Muhammad Ali Arman.
The ‘Top Student Series: Growth Mindset’ programme was organised following the National Youth Policy and Strategy (DBNS) 2020-2035 which emphasised youth empowerment to develop dynamic youth who can bring positive impact to society.
KESAN will organise three more Top Student Series programmes aimed at 16- 18-year-olds over the course of the year.