ArianaCarter

PaulHealy
Advisory
51516
HabitofMindEssay
OverthefouryearsthatIhavebeenatBlackstoneIhavestruggledandsucceeded.I
havedefinitelycomeoutofmycomfortzoneinthepastfouryearsandconqueredmyfearof
beingsocialwithpeoplethatIdonotknow.OverthepastfouryearsinhighschoolIlivedandI
learnedwhatbecomingayoungadultislike.NowthatitismysenioryearIcanproudlysaythat
IhavekindoffiguredoutwhoIamasanindividualandwhatIwantinmyfuture.Whilethelast
fouryearshavebeensomewhatcomplicatedtheywerealsofilledwithjoy.Alongwiththejoys
andcomplicationsIhavedonesomegreatworkandthereareseveraldifferentHabitsofMind
thatIuseinmyeverydaylifeandsomethatIneedtousemoreinmyeverydaylifeinorderto
beevenmoreofasuccessfulindividual.ListedbelowaretheHabitsofMindthatIamstrongest
intotheHabitsofMindthatIneedtostarttouseinmyeverydaylifemore.
1. SelfAdvocacy
2. CommunityEngagement
3. Optimism
4. Grit
5. Integrity
6. Creativity
7. Collaboration
8. Wellness

9. Gratitude
10. Organization
11. Zest
12. Humility
13. Upstanderness
ThroughoutmyentiresenioryearIfeellikeOrganizationwasthemostimportantHoM
thatIneededtofocuson.EverythingthatIhadtodovaryingfrommyseniorpapertomysenior
projecthadtodowithorganization.IfeellikeliterallyeverythingthatIdidthisentireschoolyear
Ihadtobeorganized.IbetifIwerentorganizedIprobablywouldnthavebeensosuccessful
whenitcametobuyingthestuffformyseniorprojectorwritingeachsectionformysenior
paper.IknewthatitwasimportantthatIstayedorganizedandontasksothatIwassuccessful
thisyear.Alsostayinghealthy,focusingonwhatIeat,stayingactivebywalkingtoandfrom
schoolsometimes,goingtothegymtwiceaweekwithmyfitnessclassandsimplykeepingup
withmyhygieneandcleanliness.WellnessalwayshasplayedahugeroleinhowsuccessfulI
waswhenitcametomyacademics.ThemoresleepIgetthemoreproductiveandawakeIam
forschool.ThemoreactiveIamthemoremotivatedIamandthatleadstomegrowingand
developingineverythingthatIputmymindto.ThroughtheworkthatIhavedoneatBlackstone,
thereareseveraldifferentHabitsofMindthatIcomeacrosseverydaythateitherneed
improvementorthatIhavedemonstratedgreatstrengthin.
TwoHabitsofmindthatIhavedemonstratedstrengthinthisyearwereSelfAdvocacy
andCollaboration.Selfadvocacyisbeingthedirectorofonesownlifedemonstratingagencyto
becomeempowered.Beinganadvocateforyourselfisoftenscarybecauseyouneverknow
whatthepersonnexttoyouthinks.Itsnotlikeoneshouldcarewhatotherpeoplethinkbutitis
oftentimeshardnotto.ThisyearIhaveadvocatedformyselfinsomanywayswhetheritbefor

somethingsmallorsomethingbig.Althoughithasbeenhardmakingmyownphonecallsto
organizationsandpeoplewhomIhavenevermetbeforeIdidit.TherehavebeentimeswhereI
haveaskedBiancatocallpeopleformebutbecauseshetoldmeno,yougotthisArianaIhad
todoitbymyself.IlearnedthatifIdonotspeakformyselfthenthere'snowayinhellthatI
wouldbesuccessfulwhenitcomestojobsorevenbeingsuccessfulincollege.Thisyearthere
weremanytimeswhereIdidntwanttocallcollegesforinformationbutIdiditbecauseIneeded
answersandinformationaboutmyapplicationsandabouttheircollegeingeneral.Irealized
howimportantitwasformetousemyvoiceandnotbeafraidtospeakformyself.IngeneralI
thinksenioryearwastheyearthatIhaveeveradvocatedmostformyself.Itwasabigstepto
takebutIlearnedthatadvocatingformyselfistheonlywaythatIwillbesuccessfulinlife.Ihad
tolearntobemyownvoiceandexpressmyownthoughtsforthebenefitofmyself.
WhileIhavedemonstratedSelfAdvocacyquiteabitinsideofschoolIhavealsodoneso
outsideofschool.IhavedemonstratedSelfAdvocacyoutsideofschoolwhenIhadtogoout
andmeetwithpeoplefromDCYF,FamilyServicesofRhodeIslandandAdoptionRhodeIsland
tospeakaboutmyresearchandwhatIwasthinkingaboutdoingforaproject.Formeittook
somegutstoevencallthosepeoplesoitwasdefinitelyscaryformewhenIgottotheir
workplace.AlthoughIwasnotallthatcomfortablespeakingmeetingwiththepeoplefromthese
organizationsinpersonIdidgetoverit.Iwasabletoaskclarificationquestionsandsitwith
thesepeoplehoursatatimetogetinformationformyresearchpaper.IfIwouldhaveshied
awayfromthesepeopleandgivenuptheopportunitiestositandspeakwiththem,thenIwould
haveneverhadasuccessfulresearchpaper.Findingmycomfortoutsideofschoolhasbeenan
importantfactorthisyearbecausemajorityofmyresearchhadtodowithgettinginformation
fromdifferentorganizationsandpeople.IamexcitedthatIdidnotletmyshynessgetintheway
ofhavingasuccessfulsenioryearandlifeingeneral.Thisisahabitofmindthatwillserveme

wellinthefuturebecauseIknowthatincollegeIdon'thaveanyoneholdingmyhandand
constantlyguidingmetowardsuccess.Ialsoknowthatincollegetherearenotgoingtobe
peoplewhoarewillingtospeakformeorevenmakecallsforme,Imgoingtohavetodoiton
myownandadvocateformyself.Thebiggestwaythatthishabitofmindwillservemewellin
thefutureisbecausenowthatIknowhowtospeakupformyselfIwillbeabletospeaktomy
professorsincollegeifIneedanytypeofhelpwithoutbeingafraid.Havingthishabitofmindas
astrengthdefinitelydoesmesomejusticebecauseithelpsmetobemorecomfortable
expressingmyself.
Collaborationisworkingsuccessfullywithothersbylisteningempathically,leading
sensitively,contributingmeaningfullyandlearningfromgroupmembers.OverthelastfewyearI
admitthatIhavehadsomeproblemswithcollaborationbutthisyearnotsomuch.The
differenceisIwasstubbornandwantedtodoeverythingbymyselfthelastfewyears.Thisyear
IrealizedthatIwasgoingtohavetoworkwithpeopleinmyEnvironmentalScience,Civics,and
EnglishclassIwasgoingtohavetodoalotofgroupwork.IjusthadtogetoverthefactthatI
couldnotdoeverythingonmyownanditwasntevenhardformetogetover.
InCivicsclasswedidmultipledebatesthatcalledforsplittingupintodifferentgroups
eachtimeandworkingtogethertofigureoutargumentstodifferenttopicsandthetopicsvaried
fromAntifederalistvsFederalisttodebatingaboutwhetherornotfelonsshouldhavetheright
tovoteintheelection.Thosedebatestooksomuchteamworkandresponsibility.Whenitcame
todebatinginclassitshowedhowmuchmoreeffectivethatthedebatewouldbeiftherewere
twosideseachteamingupandbringingtheirideastogetherandthatisjustwhatIdid.
SometimeIwouldbetheleaderandhandoutrolesandsometimesIwouldsitbackanddowhat
IwastoldbutwhenitwastimetobringourideastogetheranddebateIthinkeachtimewas
effective.Althoughthereweretimeswheresituationsdidn'tgorightnomatterwhichdebateit

wasonmygroupandIworkedtogetherandfigureditout.Idefinitelylearnedsomenewskills
onhowtodebateandwhatIshouldandshouldntdowhenIamarguingagainstatopicorcase.
Alsoinenvironmentalscienceclasswehadtodoabunchofgroupworkinsidetheclassroom
suchaslabreports,labsandpresentations.Allofthosecalledforcollaborationamongeach
groupmembernomatterhowmanypeoplewhereinthegroup.
Overallinschoolthisyearamajorityoftheactivitiesandprojectsthatwedidinour
classesIhadtocollaboratewithmypeersinsomeway,shapeorformanditseemedtoalways
besuccessful.SchoolisnottheonlyplacethatIhaveshowedcollaboration.Ihavealsoshowed
itoutsideofschoolandIcanspeakspecificallyaboutourseniorpapersandplay.Forthemost
partBiancaandIwerealwaysthereforoneanothersowheneversheneededtorehearseher
linesIwouldhelpherandshewouldalsohelpmewhenIwenttoherhouseorshecametomy
house.Wealsowentovereachotherspaperswhenwefeltlikesomethingswerenotgoingwell.
Welearnedfromeachotherbytakingideasandimplementingthemintoourpapersandoverall
wewerejusttheretohelpgetthroughdifficultsituations.Collaboratingwithoneanotherwas
actuallyhelpfultothebothofusbecausewelearnedfromeachother.MystrengthinthisHoM
willservemewellinthefuturebecauseIknowwhenIgotocollegeIamalmostalwaysgoingto
havetocollaboratewithmyclassmates,myroommateandprofessorstofigureoutwhatweare
goingtodowithourroomsorhowwearegoingtoeffectivelystudytogetherforfinalsandsoon.
OnemorestrengththatIhaveshownmostisGritwhichisperseveringdespite
difficulties,finishingwhatisstarted,workingindependentlywithfocusandintensity.Grithas
alwaysbeenoneofmygreateststrengthsbecauseIamalmostalwaysabletopersevere
despiteanydifficulties.AllyearIhavebeenpushedtothegroundandsteppedonbutIwasable
tostandrightbackupandwipethedirtoff.Myseniorpaperwasoneofthebiggestthingsthat
knockedmetotheground.EverytimeIhandeditintobecheckeditwaslikeIeitherneededto

addsomethingtakeawaysomethingorcapitalizesomething.ItmademesofrustratedIjust
wantedtogiveupandtobecompletelyhonesttherewereabouttwoorthreedayswhereIdid
notevenlookatmypaperbecauseIwassooverit.Ilearnedthatsometimesitisokaytotakea
breakespeciallyifyouhavemetallofthedeadlinesthroughouttheentireyear.AlthoughIleft
mypaperhangingwiththethoughtthatIwasnevergoingtotouchitagainbecauseIdidntfeel
likeIhadanymotivationIgotoutofthatmindset.IknewthatalthoughIdidntfeelany
motivationtolookatmypaperagainIneededtogetitdonesothatIwouldnolongerhaveto
worryaboutit.IdefinitelyfinishedwhatIstartedandIwasthefirstseniortofinishtheirresearch
paperwhichIwasveryproudof.Ittookalotofgoingbackandforthwithstacybutafter3
roundsofeditsIfinishedmypaperanditwasproficient.AnotherhugesetbackthatIhadwas
gettingmyseniorprojectdone.ThisistheonethingthatItriedsohardtogiveuponbutnobody
letme.Itriedmultipletimestotaketheeasywayoutandevenchangemyprojectthreeweeks
beforeschoolwasoverforme.Ihonestlywassomadatthefactthatnothingwasgoingmyway
ImadeitknownthatIwasmadateveryonewhoevencrossedpathswithmeorsaidsomething
thatIdidntlike.EventhoughIwasmadattheworldforeverythingthatwasgoingwrongI
eventuallygotoveritwhenthingsstartedtofallintoplace.Ilearnedthatsituationstaketimeto
fallintoplacesoitwasjustamatterofwaiting.DespitethefactthatIjustwantedtogetmy
projectoveranddoneandthatIwassoangrythatnothingwasgoingmyway,Ididntgiveup.I
knewinmyheartthatIdidntwanttostopwhatIwasdoingjustbecauseofthefactthat
everythingwasallovertheplacesoIstuckwithit.Ididntgiveup,yeahIwasalittlemadbut
evenwhenworsecametoworseIstillhadtofinishwhatIstartedandstayfocusedsothat
everythingwouldturnouthowIwantedittointheend.Withminorsetbackstherearemajor
comebacksandIdidagreatjobperseveringandcomingback.InlifeIknowthatdespiteany

bottlethatIgethitwithIwillalwaysbeabletopickitupandthroughitinthetrashbecauseIam
astrongpersonandIalwaysfinishwhatIstart.
Lastbutnotleast,CreativityandCommunityEngagementhavebeenstrengthsofmine
throughoutthisyeartoo.CommunityEngagementisactiveparticipationintheschool,local,
state,andglobalcommunities.CommunityEngagementhasbeengreatlydemonstratedasa
strengththroughoutmyhighschoolcareer,especiallyduringmysenioryear.Senioryear,we
wererequiredtocompletearesearchpaperandaseniorprojectaspartofourlevel4portfolio
requirements.Myresearchpaperfocusedonthefostersystemanditseffectonchildren.
WritingtheresearchpaperrequiredcommunityinvolvementbecauseIhadinterviewswiththe
directorofFamilyServiceofRhodeIsland,DepartmentofYouthandFamilyServices,anda
tidescaseworker.Iwasresponsibleforfindingthesepeopleandhearingwhattheyhadtosay
aboutthefostersystemandwhatcanbedonetohelpthechildrenfeelmorecomfortable.For
myproject,IcreatedcarepackageswhichwouldhavebeenimpossibleifIhadnotgoneoutinto
thecommunityandspokentopeopleaboutwhattheyweredoingabouttheissueandwhatI
wantedtodo.ItalsowouldhavebeenalmostimpossibleifIdidntgetthe$1000grantfromThe
MettaStudentsFoundation.Beingabletogivetofosterchildrenwasveryimportantyetexciting
tomebecausealthoughIwasunabletobearoundthekidsIknowthatIdidsomethingthatwill
makethemhappyandgivethemasenseofcomfort.Becauseofmyabilitytoparticipatewith
othersinandoutsideoftheCentralFallscommunity,myprojectwasasuccess.Althoughittook
alotofworkIusedthecreativeportionofmybraintofigureoutwhatIcoulddoinordertohave
aprojectthatwillimpactthechildreninastrongway.Ittooksomethinkingandtimetofigureout
howIwouldbecreativeyethelpfulandintheendIfigureditout.Idonothavetobuildahouse
andmakeitbeautifulinorderforittobeconsideredcreative.Littlethingscomealongwayand

creativitycanbeinterpretedinmultipleways.Myseniorprojectiscreativeanduniqueand
hopefullyitturnsintosomethingthatIcandoforever.
AfewareasofgrowththatIhadthisyearareOptimism,Gratitude,andZest.Optimismis
believingthatoneslife,community,andworldcangetbetterwitheffort.Comingintosenior
year,IknewwhatIwaspassionateaboutandwhybutIwasnotnecessarilysurehowIwas
goingtowriteapaperorcreateaprojectoutofit.Losingmylittlecousinsandgodsonforthe
6thtimeduetothembeingplacedinfostercaremademerealizethattheyareuncomfortable
andIamuncomfortableforthem.Eachtimetheyweretakenoutoftheirhometheycouldnot
bringanythingwiththemexceptforastuffedanimaliftheyhadtimetograbone.Otherthanthat
theywentfromhometohomewithablackplasticbagofalloftheirbelongings.Knowingthat
theyarenotcomfortablealwaysbringsanoverwhelmingsadnessovermebecauseitwas
alwayshappeningandIfeltliketherewasnothingIcoulddoitaboutit.AlthoughIfeltlikethere
wasnothingthatIcoulddoabouttheissue,IknewthattherewereplentyofwaysthatIcould
helpfosterchildrenlikethem.Afterthinkingaboutwaystobringcomforttofosterchildrenand
raiseawareness,Ibrainstormedideasonhowtomakefosterchildrenfeellikesomeonecared
aboutthemandIthoughtaboutcreatingcarepackages.Idemonstratedoptimisminpreparing
andcompletingthisprojectbecauseregardlessofthewhatgoesoninmycommunity,Ibelieve
thatbystartingsmallandspreadingawarenessthroughoutBlackstone,wecanmakesome
majorchangestothelivesoffosterchildren.Iknowthatonedaymyprojectwillturnintoa
nonprofitandIcanhelpmoreandmoreChildreninfostercare.AlthoughthisHoMissomething
Ineedtoworkon,daybydayitisjustgetsbetterandbettersosoonitwillbeonmylistof
strengthsandsowillZest.Zestisparticipatingenthusiasticallyandpassionatelyinvigorating
other.AfewtimesthatIhaveshownzestinsideofschoolisinFacingHistoryclass.Istartedto
bemoretalkativeandexpressmythoughtsandfeelingsontopics.Igotcomfortablespeaking

myopinionandlisteningtoeverybodyelse's.Ialwaysliketoaskmypeerswhattheiropinionon
thetopicweweretalkingaboutwas.IonlydidthatbecauseIlovedhearingtheiropinionsand
ideas.
Gratitudeisshowingappreciationforothersandforone'sopportunities.Whilemajorityof
thetimeIdotellpeoplehowmuchtheymeantome,howthankfulIamthattheyhavehelped
meandoftentimeIshowrespectforthepeoplearoundme.AsapersonIdoshowappreciation
forothersbutsometimesIdontthinkIdoitasmuchasIshould.ItsweirdbecauseIaman
appreciativepersonandItendtothankpeopleforeverylittlethingbutIbelieveyoucannever
thanksomeonetoomuch.ThisismoreofastrengththanitissomethingthatIneedtoworkon
buttherearedefinitelywaysthatIcanshowmoregratitudeinmyeverydaylife.
InadditiontomylevelofcommunityengagementandGratitude,Iamalsocurrently
workingonIntegrityandUpstanderness,whichis,tellingthetruthtooneselfandothersthrough
wordsandactionsevenwhenit'sdifficultandhelpingthosewhoaresituationally
disempowered..Idemonstratedthesehabitsofmind,whenIopeneduptoPaulabouta
conversationthatIheardaboutsomeonebeingabusedinsideoftheirhousehold.Iwasnervous
totellhimbutitissomethingthatIhadtodoforthesafetyofthatstudent.
Overall
Ihavehadsomereallygreataccomplishmentsthisyear.SomethingsthatIam
mostproudofismyseniorproject.Ittooksometime,patience,andefforttogetitdone.Inever
gaveupthough.Iwaspersistentandthatiswhatallowedmetoaccomplishmygoals.Ihave
alsohadstrugglesandmygreateststrugglethisyearwasnothavinganIDinordertodomy
seniorProjectbutthatsituationforcedmetohavetogothroughtheprocessofgettingone.I
havedealtwiththisstruggleverywellbecauseifIweremysophomoreyearselfIwouldhave
lostmymindmorethanIalreadyhave.IhavebeenstrongandatthetimeIdidnotgiveup.I
workedhardandstayedpositiveanddidwhatIhadtodo.

Therearemanystrengths,weaknessesandareasofgrowththatcomealongwithbeing
astudent.Asmystrengthsandweaknessesvary,itisimportantthatIworktowardsturning
someofmyweaknessesintostrengths.AsImoveontoMitchellCollege,Iwillbesureto
masterthesedifferentHabitsofMindsinordertobeandorganized,successfulstudentand
adultthroughoutcollegeandtherestofmylife.
Mygoalsfornextyeararetobestrongandsuccessful.Collegeisnojoke.Idontwantto
slackoffatallbecauseIwanttobesuccessful.Iplanongettingmoreengagedinthe
communityandmakesurethatmyseniorprojectturnsintosomethingIcandoonceayear.I
planonnevergivingupdespitedifficulties.Iknowitisgoingtobehardstartingalloveragain
butIcandoit.IdontknowhowbutIwillfigureitout.