The Impact of Fixed Mindset: A Study on Wes Moore

In contrast, the Other Wes had Moore of a fixed mindset. Fixed mindset, as defined by Dweck in her article Bornology means that an individual believes that their talent is fixed. For instance, if we give a quiz of 5rd grade to 4th grade students, the Fixed mindset student will think that they are not enough smart for this quiz and will not try their best to solve the questions, while the growth mindset students will try to solve the questions. Indeed, Fixed mindset individuals thinks that their intelligence can’t improve and they don’t even want to try to learn new things. Similarly, in the book “The Other Wes Moore” by Wes Moore, the other Wes Moore dreamed of becoming a professional football player or becoming a rapper. The other Moore’s

aim was not to go to school because he believed that “He always felt he was smarter than the other kids in class and that the work just didn’t hold his interest” pg30. The quote explains that, Wes always felt that his “talent is fixed.” or he was looking easy way to earn things without putting any effort in it; and this believe caused him not to grow. He was so narrow-minded that the only way he thought to make easy money was to sell drugs. The consequences of his actions and decisions were that he ends up in jail.
Moreover, the First Wes had grit.

In the article “Grit” Angela Duckworth defines grit as “perseverance and passion for very long term goals” Pg 2. The quote defines grit as consistently working hard toward your long-term goal. For instance, if we see high school students, most of them are not interested in school. They are just waiting to drop out of school and live a simple life, on the other hand, there are some students who don’t want to drop out of school because they have grit for their long-term goals. In the same way, from the moment the readers are introduced to the First WES Moore, he has an inner sense of goodness which manifests itself in his grit. He strives for his goals with determination and courage from his mother. Unlike him, the other Wes has an inner sense of instability which leads him to constantly make bad decisions repeatedly and manifests his grit as negative and unable to make well-thought decisions. The First Wes had grit toward his long-term goals. In the book the author Wes Moore explains, how the First Wes Moore changed “As I sat in the other end of the line, listening to my mother talk about ‘Sacrifice’….” pg96.the quote explains that, the mother and grandparents made many sacrifices to put him through school, and make him successful with a bright future. He faced many pure pushers in life in military school because of his good up bring and education he always made the right decisions. As an example, one day Wes and Dalio his friend was hanging out and suddenly a car pulled over and punched him in his face. Wes instead of taking revenge, he thought about his mother sacrifice and ignore the

incident.