"Science Class" (2011-2015) by Elina Brotherus
According to Grant, "In preacher mode, changing our minds is a mark of moral weakness; in scientist mode, it's a sign of intellectual integrity. In prosecutor mode, allowing ourselves to be persuaded is admitting defeat; in scientist mode, it's a step toward the truth" (25).
Option A:
Describe a time in your life in which changing your mind about something important or allowing yourself to be persuaded about something important was a struggle--intellectually or emotionally. What was that experience like? How did you feel at the time and afterwards? Were you ever afraid that changing your mind was a sign of weakness or defeat?
Option: B:
Describe a memorable time in which someone you know well changed their mind about something important or allowed themselves to be persuaded. Did you see it as a sign of weakness or as capitulation to peer pressure? Did anyone see it that way?
Growing up, I had known the same car my entire childhood. My mom drove an older minivan and she was determined to make it last. When I was around thirteen, the minivan started having problems. My dad suggested that we get a new reliable family car but my mom refused. Eventually, he convinced her to go to a dealership to look around. I watched my mom leave the house and I fully expected her to come back empty handed. I was surprised when, a couple hours later, she drove a different car in the driveway than the one she left with. I am sure my dad used some persuasion while they were at the dealership but I do not view my mom as weak for giving in. I am glad that her mindset didn't shift into prosecutor mode. That kind of action would have made her feel defeat when she bought the car. Instead, she came home with a smile on her face and I am glad she was able to purchase something that made her happy.
ReplyDeleteEmily Crowley
Option A:
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in the middle of high school, I really had the impression that I should be writing screenplays as a potential profession. I really enjoyed the work I did, the stories I wrote. I felt like I was ahead of everyone else in my class because I'd already had two scripts and a stage play I'd written mostly for fun under my belt before senior year came along. But the thing is, it wasn't meant to be my "calling," or whatever name I gave it. I slowly saw that a screenwriter's life isn't what I wanted. It was really hard admitting that to my family and friends when they kept asking why I wasn't writing anymore. (I'm still writing, just in novel-form, my favorite way to write as a kid.) I felt weak for changing my mind, but now I see that sort of change is vital to us on the way to happiness.
Lauren George
I experienced a similar situation recently. My dad has always told me and my siblings to set high goals for our career choices. Ever since I was young, I always wanted to be a pediatrician. Over time, I realized that my childhood dream to become a doctor was no longer what I felt called to do in life. The profession I chose does not make as much money and does not hold the high title of “doctor”, but I believe it is what I am supposed to do. I feared telling my dad just because I felt like I was going to let him down, and that is the last thing I want to do. But, like you said, happiness is a vital part of life and the only way to make myself happy is to do what I truly feel like I am called to do.
DeleteLauren, I totally understand this experience. For as long as I can remember, I've wanted to work in the medical field. My mom is a nurse, and I kind of wanted to follow in her footsteps and do something similar. After some anatomy and physiology classes and some time interning at a doctor's office, I realized that maybe it wasn't for me. I felt like I was not committed enough or was too "wishy-washy". I was scared of accepting a new possible career and wanted to be completely sure of things. Through more exploration, I've discovered that I can accomplish things that appealed to me in medicine, like helping others, in many fields. I began to mentor in a classroom and discovered that I might rather be a teacher. My parents and friends were very supportive of this! They encouraged me, as did "Think Again", that it's okay to change your mind and want something different. "Think Again" taught me that the concept of "identity foreclosure" or finding one thing and committing to it even if something may not be the best fit, isn't necessary. Being happy is more important than the occupation title.
DeleteOption A:
ReplyDeleteIn middle school, I was in a large fight with one of my closest friends. Our friendship was built and remained in preacher mode. We consistently debated why our own point of view was right and the other was wrong. There was a very special event we both had been planning together for all our close friends. She had made a very good point, but there was part of me that would not allow myself to admit it. I dug in my feet. I argued continuously why my plan was the better idea. I felt that in changing my mind, I was showing intellectual weakness. In that moment, I struggled to understand why I was so upset by letting her know she had the better plan. However, as I look back now, I understand the maturity it takes to openly change your mind in front of others. Admitting you were wrong and changing your mind is not a sign of intellectual weakness but maturity.
-Megan Lewis
Megan, this was a great example. I agree, changing your mind requires a certain amount of maturity. At what age do you think people start being able to understand an argument better?
DeleteReese, I think that is a very difficult question to answer. For some it could be very early in life. However, for others it could take much longer. I think it has many different variables, such as culture, family life, friends, etc.
DeleteThis is a great example of the ideas conveyed in the book! You are right, in can be difficult, especially for younger children, to admit when they are wrong. As Grant described, sometimes we get so caught up in wanting to "feel" like you're right, so it can be difficult to see another perspective. However, rethinking and changing your view shows your strength and maturity.
DeleteOption B:
ReplyDeleteDeciding to come to the United States of America as an immigrant was the best decision my family and I made to date. However, it was also the hardest decision my parents made for us. Back in Nepal (when we were going through the application processes), not everyone wanted to come to the states as everyone believed different things and some people thought of USA as an unsafe place. My dad was one of those people. Initially, he did not want to come here and wanted to stay back in the poor village in Nepal where we had nothing. He did not want to leave the country that he grew up in, where my siblings and I were raised. He believed that leaving Nepal was the worst decision of our lives and wanted to stay back. However, my relatives were able to persuade him after a long time of convincing to move with everyone else. I saw it as a sign of capitulation to peer pressure because he was not able to stand his stance and eventually had to leave Nepal for USA. Now, I believe it was just him making a good decision for our family so we can live a better life.
In response to option A, the religious aspect of my life is a current situation where I am battling myself mentally. I have recently debated whether or not I should denounce my faith. Growing up as a pastor’s daughter has caused me to automatically develop the mentality that I am expected to be religious for the rest of my life. However, within the last year I have stopped going to church, stopped reading the Bible, and I find myself to be questioning God rather than having faith in God. If I were to denounce my faith I would experience a lot of disappointment from my family, which is the last thing I want. Aside from experiencing judgement from others I know that denouncing my faith would have little to no effect on my current life. However, looking at this situation from a religious standpoint many would view denouncing my faith as a defeat and a “victory for sin”.
ReplyDeleteDeborah Thornton
Option B:
ReplyDeleteIn my family, mostly everyone is a teacher or in the education field. My mom was a teacher before my sister and I were born, and then she became a stay-at-home mom. When I was a fourth grader, my mom decided to go back to the classroom. For as long as I can remember I had always heard my mom say no one could pay her any amount of money to go back to college to get her masters. She would say that it was too late, she had a job, a family, and did not have time to go back. The superintendent at the time was retiring and told my mom that she would like her to do a favor for her, and go back to college so my mom could become a principal. I just knew my mom would not do it. Sure, enough though, I was wrong and my mom went back to college at East Central. My mom has now been a principal for three years and is starting her fourth year now. I was surprised by how easily swayed my mom was, but it made me proud. I do not see it as a weakness, I see it as strength. My mom went back to college and bettered herself and has helped so many little kids.
-Anna Herd
Option A: When I first entered high school, my Mom tried her best to persuade me to join the volleyball team. Every time I said no way, I already play enough sports and that volleyball wasn't a "cool" sport to play. My mom was disappointed, she grew up loving the game of volleyball and would love to watch me play, she bargained and said I only had to try a camp, and if I didn't like it she would let go of the idea. To make her happy, and also get her off my back a bit I reluctantly said yes. To conclude I ended up really enjoying the sport and played it all through high school. Yes I was persuaded, but I don't consider that a form of weakness, persuasion from loved ones is different. They usually have your best interest in mind, and will often push you you to step out of your comfort zone, so I am happy my Mom was persistent.
ReplyDeleteIn high school I was a part of a nursing program that was for students who wanted to go to nursing school in college. We took special classes and spent a lot of time on activities that were specifically for making your nursing school applications stronger. My parents were really proud and I thought that I would eventually go on to nursing school. But, by the end of the program I realized that nursing wasn't for me. I felt pressured though, and had even toured college's nursing programs to appease my parents. When I finally told them I wanted to go into science I felt embarrassed because I felt I had wasted a ton of time, and my mom was upset. But after I got over the feeling of defeat I was so happy I made the decision.
ReplyDeleteoption B: I grew up in a small town just outside of Shawnee called Bethel acres. I was raised in a church where many traditional values were praised and upheld. Sometimes I thought it was a little hypocritical, how can we be hands and feet if we aren't willing to eat with the “sinners” like Jesus did. In my highschool these same beliefs were held and if you were different you were not treated very well. I would watch as people in my church and at school would condemn someone for thinking a different way. Something did not sit right with me; because if doing the “right thing” causes someone else pain, how can it be worth it. As my beliefs started changing and my own separate opinions started forming I got a lot of criticism for it. At home my dad and I struggled to agree, at school people looked at me differently. All because I started to lead my life by loving other people despite all the “sin” or wrongdoing they had committed. If treating someone as an equal made them feel good and loved then I was doing my job. People often end up how they are because of how they were raised. The kid with unwashed hair and dirty clothes in the corner who is always in trouble and never does their homework had a mom who was on opioids. Their struggles and outbursts do not make them any less deserving of empathy and compassion. During this transition I had a lot of emotional turmoil. Some people just did not understand why I was so nice to people who in their eyes did not deserve it or why I was focused on making connections more than disciples. I often wondered if I was doing the right thing but I never thought of it as weakness I thought of it as growing pains. The pain we have to go through to make decisions and grow into who we are meant to be.
ReplyDelete_ Kimber Farris
Option B:
ReplyDeleteWhen I was a 17, I wanted a dog more than anything else in the world. So, I searched the web day after day for a goldendoodle puppy. I only had one problem, my parents. My mom was originally totally against the dog. She used excuses like “They are too expensive.” or “You won’t have time to care for it.” However, I pushed and pushed to get a dog for my birthday. I stumbled upon a couple that bred goldendoodles with one puppy left. Additionally, they only lived one hour away! I was ecstatic, and I had no trouble showing it. This only enhanced my argument. I found a puppy for the right price and so close to home; how could she say no? I begged and pleaded like a toddler asking for candy until finally I was able to convince my mom to say yes. We loaded up the car and traveled to welcome our new family member. She was everything I’d ever wanted: a golden red puppy with big brown eyes and little white feet. At the time, I saw this as a sign of my mother’s weakness. Her inability to withstand my persuasive skills must have meant that I was intellectually superior. I could not have been more wrong. I remember my dad saying to me as we got the dog “You sure are lucky to have a mom who loves you enough to get you this dog.” As I have grown older, it had become apparent that my mother wasn’t susceptible to my persuasion, she just wanted to see my happy in a very awkward moment of my life. Her saying yes to the dog was more so evidence of her kindness, not her weakness.
-Reese H. Siegle
Option A: Growing up, I spent a lot of time in the church. My family is religious and I am too. However, the past couple years, a lot of things have happened in my life that have made me question and debate quite a few things about my religion and what is really the truth in this world. Throughout high school, my sexuality was constantly questioned by other people. I couldn't really comprehend why at the time as I was known to be a member of the church and a pretty devout one at that. However, around my junior year things began changing and I started to consider the idea that it might be a truth in my life. Eventually I came to the conclusion that I am bisexual. It was not an easy decision and it took a long time. I definitely saw it as a defeat at the time but as time has moved on and I have grown into this new skin, I am a lot happier now that I was then. This decision, at the time however, did not deter me from going to church too much. But over the last couple years as media and religion and government have intertwined, I have seen the true colors of many people who claim to belong to the same religion as I do. People who are supposed to be about love and acceptance but are instead full of hate, injustice, and malice. How the religion that I held so dearly to my heart for the first 17 years of my life or so had changed so much from what it was supposed to be. I slowly started to distance myself from it and have not been apart of it really for quite some time. I still hold it dear to my heart and interpret the Bible in the way that I believe it should be interpreted. However, my views of the bible and the religion of Christianity have changed drastically in a very short amount if time. When I first began to question something that I saw as a personal identifier began to waver I definitely saw it as a defeat. However, my views now is that is not that way. We are free to interpret and live our lives the way we wish to and no religion is in charge of that. You are. It is a victory in my eyes and in my mind and heart and I will continue to see it that way for a long time to come.
ReplyDeleteI chose option B to answer. Back in seventh grade, I made a friend who became one of my closest friends. I remember one day when she invited me over to her father’s house to stay the night. She was really nervous, and I wasn’t really sure why. I thought maybe she was embarrassed over her house or something like that. I stayed the night and it was so much fun! We played games and did all kinds of stuff. (I won’t go into detail since this is a personal story). A few years later, I asked her why she was so nervous to invite me over. She told me that her dad used to be really prejudiced towards people of color. I was shocked! I would have never thought he could have been prejudiced towards Black people. She told me that he would say things after I left and that she would feel strange if she brought a Black boy home to him. It was strange to think that someone could dislike me even before knowing me. It wasn’t the first time of course, I had been called a monkey and the n word numerous times, but this situation seemed different and I didn’t know why. Throughout the years, she told me that by meeting me and my family, he became less prejudiced and more open minded. It was amazing to say the least! I definitely did not see his change in heart as a sign of weakness or a capitulation of peer pressure. Now do I think that it should take a little mix girl to change the heart of a grown man, of course not. Yes, racism is taught, but people know better. However, I do think the experience changed the way I thought about the change in people’s minds and what it often takes. It was a sad, but really helpful experience and made me think of things in a completely different light!
ReplyDeleteMy sister knew what she wanted to be almost her entire life. Other people would stress about future careers but she was confident she knew what she wanted. Then, last year, while I was talking about heading to college and she started thinking about what came after high school she decided what she had always wanted might not be what she wanted anymore and it caused her a ton of stress, I told her not to worry about it because it is not necessary for her to know right now. Months later, she realized she did know what she needed to be and that she did not need to worry about the rest, through prayer and time the rest would be revealed she just needed to focus on the one thing for now.
ReplyDeleteOption B:
ReplyDeleteMy sister started online school her freshman year of high school. This year, she is going to be a senior. Many of her friends and even some family members have told her to go back to public school in person for her senior year. They told her that she would regret it if she didn't go back in person and that she would "miss out" on a true senior experience. After hearing what others had to say, she was confused and questioning what she should do. She enjoyed online school and liked how she could go at her own pace; however, she didn't want to miss out on her "senior experience." After a lot of thought, she decided to go back to school in person. I believe that peer-pressure did play a bit of a role in her ultimate decision because her friends highly encouraged her to go back. If they didn't encourage her to go back as much, I believe that she would've chose to continue online school because she is not a big fan of frequent change. However, she partly made the decision on her own because she missed seeing her friends everyday like she used to. Ultimately, her friends played a role in changing her decisions.
I am that person who can be persuaded easily from something. While I am good at keeping my own thoughts and opinions on something, I can get persuaded by something that sounds true. I believe something like that is a weakness and should be worked on if someone like me has that problem. Sometimes it’s good to be persuaded, but other times it shouldn’t be so easy to do it.
ReplyDeleteOption B:
ReplyDeleteIn my junior year of high school I took a class that's purpose was to teach the students critical thinking and problem solving skills. Whenever I form opinions about things I think logically about the information I have been given before deciding anything. In that class I quickly learned that the majority of people do not do that. They simply believe everything they are told by biased sources. I saw a few students accept new ideas when the information was presented to them, but mostly I saw people refuse to listen at all.
- Hunter Cook
Delete