Improv: nightmare or opportunity? Mindset decides

Perspective is everything. Victor Frankl, survivor of the Nazi Holocaust, once wrote "The last of human freedoms is the ability to choose one's attitude in a given set of circumstances." Like attitude, we too are able to choose our mindset. Our mindsets color the lens through which we view the world, ourselves, and others and governs how we relate to each other and accomplish tasks. The book Mindset and our discussion on Thursday challenged us to look at failure not as a lack in ability but rather as an opportunity for growth.

Back in November when C2C applications came out, I remember thinking, "How cool! But that's definitely not for me," and I deleted the email. My fixed mindset told me that I didn't have the skills necessary. Being described as "painfully shy," my mind goes blank when I talk--making verbal communication anything but my forte. However, as a future pediatric nurse, education is critical for healthy child outcomes and depends on excellent verbal communication. Determined to excel in nursing, I had to adopt the growth-mindset in order to enable myself to work on this weakness—meaning that C2C was most definitely for me. C2C provided an opportunity right off the bat through improv.

Improv--Thinking on the spur of the moment, being spontaneous, not planning your next word—my biggest nightmare. Literally. But I knew I had to change my mindset. Not an impending disaster—unique opportunity to grow….some (namely me) more than others. End result? Lots of laughter and unique way to get to know each other better. Awkward human configurations of BLT sandwiches and confidence that we can solve any possible crisis with any one item, even a cow femur. After class, a friend asked “How’d you do?” I responded, “It doesn’t matter. It’s part of the growing process.”   And it was.

- Lauren Head, Woodruff School of Nursing