Growth Mindset

The concept of growth mindset is completely new to me; as is Carol Dwyer. In today's society, it feels like everything revolves around how successful you are. It puts a lot of pressure on us, as students because if we get a bad grade on a test, or even in a class, we think "Oh my gosh, we have to change our major, we're not going to get into graduate school etc." I personally am no different. It extremely difficult to get into Physical Therapy school, so when I received a grade last semester, that I wasn't happy about I thought my life was over. Even my advisor said that it was going to be difficult to get into PT school now. So this growth mindset could really help a lot of students. It could show them that rather giving up after life gives them a challenge, they need to learn all they can from it and move on. I want to learn more about the growth mindset this semester so that I am able to apply it to all my classes not only this year, but also in graduate school.

(Growth Mindset, Flickr)

Starting the Semester

To me, the beginning of the semester is when I am the most organized because it's when I have the most time. So to stay organized throughout the semester, I use different color pens for each of my classes and write out the due dates in my planner. I also have places that I go to study because if I stay at home, then I start talking to my roommates or get distracted. So everyday after my classes end I try to stay on campus an extra 3 hours to get some homework done. The library is not my favorite places to study because its too quiet so I've learned to find new places such as empty classrooms, the Union, or the HES building.

(Wikimedia)

Reading Options

For week two, I chose a Classical story, Cupid and Psyche. This is the story upon which Beauty and the Beast is based and I love that story, so I figure to be able to read the original would be really cool. A unit that sounded interesting to me was Alice in Wonderland because I like being able to read the original and see how the movies and books we watch and see today differ. Another couple units that sounded interesting to me were all three of the Ovid units. Each Ovid unit contains different well-known Greek mythology stories (and some that aren't as well-known). If I liked the popular mythology stories than chances are I will like the ones that I have never heard before.

(The White Rabbit, Alice in Wonderland)

Links to Units
Cupid and Psyche: http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/2014/05/myth-folklore-unit-apuleiuss-cupid-and.html
Alice in Wonderland: http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/search/label/Unit%3A%20Alice%20in%20Wonderland
Ovid 1: http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/search/label/Unit%3A%20Ovid%20I.
Ovid 2: http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/search/label/Unit%3A%20Ovid%20II.
Ovid 3: http://mythfolklore.blogspot.com/search/label/Unit%3A%20Ovid%20III.

Storybook Favorites

After looking at what seems like a thousand storybooks, I have identified my three favorites. The first (and what is most interesting to me) is called Mount Olympus Gossip, and is about the main Gods and Goddesses of Greek mythology. The second, titled Tales of Grimm revolves around the stories written by the Grimm Brothers. Finally, the third, Fairy Tales: The Other Side, adds a twist to some of the classic fairy tales.

Mount Olympus Gossip tells the stories of two Greek Goddesses and two Greek Gods from an inside point of view. Greek mythology is one of my favorite things to read about, so this title was the main reason I chose to further explore this storybook. The author did a good job keeping the title short, while also still making it intriguing. Although, this topic is very familiar to me, the introduction did a excellent job on cluing me in about how the stories were going to be told, and who they were going to be told about. However, the way the introduction was structured was kind of odd to me. The author included details about each god/goddess that should have been told in the story itself. It gave some of the gossip away before the author had even written the stories.

(Zeus)

Tales of Grimm retells stories written by the Grimm Brothers. This title was very self explanatory so I knew exactly what type of stories I was about to read. I have read a few stories written by the Grimm Brothers but the author did a good job about choosing some that are not as well known. The introduction didn't really explain the topic very much, but really made me want to read the stories. It grabbed my attention because the entire introduction was written as a dialogue.

Fairy Tales: The Other Side adds a twist to some of the most well known fairy tales. The title did an okay job at letting me know what the storybook was about. The introduction explained very well about the contents of each story. The only thing about this storybook that I didn't like, was the introduction wasn't labeled as such. It was labeled Make Mine with a Twist and made it very difficult to find as it seemed like the title of a story rather than the introduction.

Bibliography:
Mount Olympus Gossip: https://sites.google.com/site/mountolympusgossip/home
Tales of Grimm: https://sites.google.com/site/talesofgrimm3043/home
Fairy Tales: The Other Side: https://sites.google.com/site/fairytalestheotherside/home

Introduction to a Former Baker

Hi! My name is Bailey Ruby and I am 20 years old! I was born in Fort Worth, Texas but my dad’s job has moved our family all across the country! I have lived in Minnesota, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Washington State, and now, again, Texas! My favorite place that I have lived was definitely Washington State. I love the outdoors, and there was always somethingfun to do there; hiking, skiing, swimming, not to mention the scenery was BEAUTIFUL! I have two sisters, Mackenzie who is a year older, and Kennedy, who is a year younger. Both attend Oklahoma State University. I also have a 9-month-old puppy, Hudson, who is a Yorkshire Terrier and Bichon Frise mix.

(Hudson, Personal Picture)

Choosing to attend the University of Oklahoma was a difficult decision for me. Growing up with two sisters (and being so close in age) really made me want to branch out on my own and go to a school far away from home but, once I saw the OU campus I knew it was the only place for me! I am currently a Health and Exercise Science major (pre-Physical Therapy) with a minor in Psychology. Once I receive my Doctorate in PT, I want to work with military veterans, specifically amputees, or those recovering from injuries received while on active duty. I’m currently volunteering in the PT center at the Veterans Hospital in Oklahoma City, and it is one of the best things I have ever done!

In my free time I LOVE to bake! When I was a little kid, I wanted to open my own bakery but once I found out I had to wake up early as a baker, I changed my mind (I’m so not a morning person)! I also really like traveling although I don’t get to do that very much! This summer however, my best friends and I were able to take a vacation and go to Disney World. We stood in line for every ride, and took pictures with a ton of characters. My number one place I want to visit is Greece. I love Greek mythology so to be able to see the place that those stories stem from would be my dream.

(Disney World, Personal Picture)

Story: The Lion, The Fox, and the Beasts

There once lived a Lion, who was so gravely ill that he was unable to leave his home. He summoned all the animals to come visit him in his cave and hear his last Will and Testament. The first to come was the Goat. The Goat walked in, his hoofs lightly clicking against the cave floor, and stayed, listening to the Lion for a long while. Next, the Cow walked in and, seeing the Lion on the floor, lay down next to him to better listen. He too, stayed. 

                                                                (The Lion, Flickr)

Meanwhile the Sheep arrived. She began walking inside the cave but was stopped suddenly by a voice. This high pitched, almost silent voice arose from behind her, in the open field outside the entrance of the cave and heeded a warning; “Do not enter if you wish to live, all who have entered have not returned.” The Sheep glanced around and at last saw who had spoken, the Fox. The Fox was known to be a trickster and a liar so the Sheep took no notice of him and continued into the cave to hear the last Will and Testament of the Lion. 

(The Sheep, Flickr)

At last, when it seemed all the animals had come to pay their respects to the Lion, he made a miraculous recovery and exited the cave to go find water (as he was parched). Upon exiting, he encountered the Fox, still in the field the Sheep spoke to him in. The Lion, asked the Fox as to why he did not come pay his respects. The Fox answered, “I have been sitting here all day, watching, and have seem many animals go into your cave, however, I have seen none leave. Until I see all the animals who have entered, come out again I think I will just stay out here.”

(The Fox, Flickr)

Authors Note: The original story is titled "The Lion, The Fox, and the Beasts" and was found in the Fables of Aesop. The plot is very similar to the the original story, and is about a Lion who pretends to be ill in order to gain visits from a bunch of animals, and ultimately turning them into prey. The Fox is smart enough to realize this is occurring and is able to prevent himself from becoming food.

Bibliography: This story is based on the fable called "The Lion, The Fox, and the Beasts" found in the Fables of Aesop, written by Joseph Jacobs.

My Favorite Place... Cannon Beach

(Cannon Beach, Oregon, USA Flickr)

I grew up all across the country so I was able to see and visit many different places. Each place was unique in its own way however, one place stood out way beyond the rest; Cannon Beach, Oregon. Cannon Beach is a small town on the west coast of Oregon. It has cute antique shops, amazing restaurants, and spectacular views. We climbed a cliff that had a breathtaking view of the Pacific Ocean, and from the top we were able to see whales out at sea. The beach had these huge rocks that when the tide rolled out, were littered with starfish and seashells, and the air had the same cool, crisp, calming feeling as the water.