Angie Grajeda

Professor Lao
College One
October 19, 2014
Reading Response Journal: #7
Read Switch p. 25-48 and 164-173.
1. In the College One Course Reader an article called, Find the Bright Spots initially states that we
need to switch from archaeological problem solving to bright spot evangelizing. Meaning that we
should pay more attention to what is pleasant or successful, rather than when things are unpleasant
or not successful. A few things that were in the reading to prove that bright-spot evangelizing brings
better opportunities than archaeological problem solving, were the malnutrition problem; Jerry
Sternin, John Murphy the practitioner of solutions-focused brief therapy. They only care about the
solution to the problem, not finding clues why they act like that or care about their childhood. They do
that by posing the Miracle Question, which allows them to identify the tangible signs that the miracle
happened (ex. of a man with a drinking problem). Others were the manger feedback, the sale reps
that sold more than the others did, and the 24 most common emotion words, etc. Overall, in the
article, we learn how different people adapt to these so-called bright spots, and they learn that the
bright spots brighten the roads for action and hope that change is possible. In the other set of pages,
they initially state that people need to grow their mindset. Meaning that with concerted effort you can
make yourself better at anything, such as playing a sport, learning a step to salsa dance, writing, etc.
with such practice one can praise effort and accept challenges to develop the mindset. A few things
that were in the reading to prove that with practice and courage your mindset will grow allowing to
achieve success were a tennis player named John McEnroe, he practiced and self-improved his
abilities, the salsa dancers, the experiment run by Two Colleagues, Kali Trzesniewsi and Lisa
Blackwell, they wanted to train the students on the growth mindset, to see if the kids get better at
math, also talk about how the business world rejects the growth mindset, because they do not get the
learning stage nor the practice stage, IDEO leaders improve their project numerous times, they also
talk about MICS (minimally invasive cardiac surgery) how they learned the hard way to embrace a
new kind of heart surgery, etc. Overall, in the article, we learn how powerful the growth mindset
allows people to learn and embrace new techniques. Lastly, in order to grow your mindset your need
to exercise your brain because it is just like a muscle.
2. While I was reading this, I found to be intriguing since the beginning, because everything that was
said was true, such as the part when they talk about the kids grades. They say that parents do not
focus or think about the grades As and Bs, but rather spring into action when they see Ds and Fs. I
can relate to it and I am sure every student too, we have faced this situation at some point in our
educational path. Once they open the report, they look straight at the bad grades rather on the good
ones, which bothers us because they do not congratulate us for doing well in those classes because
they become to focus on the bad ones. At the end they just reproach you on how bad you are doing,
making you feel that just in general you are doing bad in school. Other things that I found fascinating
while reading was learning about a practitioner of solutions-focused brief therapy. I liked it a lot
because I have never heard of such a thing, I have only heard of therapies that find clues to why you
are acting a certain way. After reading this about the practitioner I felt I wanted to do more research
on them, because I had been interested in a career of becoming a therapist but was not too sure what
kind or for what, but now reading this, I think this would absolutely interest me as a career. Lastly, I
think everyone would be much happier and successful if they switch from archaeological problem
solving to bright spot evangelizing. As I was reading the other set of page, I found it to be not as
intriguing like the first one I read, because it did not interest me. One thing that bothered me when I
was reading it was when I came upon the line, You mean I dont have to be dumb? I hate to hear
people say that they are dumb because I find that no one is dumb. They may have less information or
do not know something that you knew does not mean they are dumb. The only dumb ones are the
mentally ill. Unless the doctor told you were mentally ill then yes you are dumb, but otherwise youre

not. Calling yourself dumb is an excuse, you have the ability to learn and embrace the knowledge but
you decide not to. Please do not call yourself dumb.
3. Why do people pay more attention to what is unpleasant or not successful?
Why are people so afraid of change?
Can Bright Spots also affect you negatively rather than positively?
4. My reading process while reading this was no different from the other times. Before I start to reading,
I make sure distractions are put away or out of sight, such as my cell phone, laptop, iPod, etc. Take
out sticking notes so I can take notes. I take notes on things that I find important to know, such as
dates, names, events, facts, words, etc. Another thing that I like to do while I read is make
connections, because that is how I make the reading more interesting and keeps me alert and
connected. At midpoint of the reading I stopped because, I was making connections and imagining
the scenario in my head. That part was the kids grades, and the counseling talks. The only thing that
I wondered when I was done reading it was, Did the other students enjoy the reading like I did?
5. As I was reading, I encountered a few words that I did not know the meaning of. I found it challenging
when I did not know what a word meant, so I had to write them down and find the meaning to them.
Once I did that, everything made more sense. I felt that without the understanding of a particular word
in a sentence, you could miss the whole meaning of the sentence. A few words that I wrote down on
my sticky notes were Arduous, referendum, predilection, and evangelizing. I choose these four words
as good words because I did not know what these words meant, I found its definition, and now I know
what they mean. Now I could go back, reread each word in its context, and understand what is being
said, know I will not have any trouble understanding what has been said. Know I fully grasped the
true meaning behind the sentences.
Arduous: requiring great exertion; laborious; difficult.
Referendum: the principle or practice of referring measures proposed or passed by a legislative
body to the vote of the electorate for approval or rejection.
Predilection: a tendency to think favorably of something in particular; partiality; preference.
Evangelizing: to preach the gospel to.