VOICES

By Sydney Crudo, Grade 6 Student

Have you dusted off your list of New Year's resolutions lately? For many students like us, those ambitious goals scribbled on January 1st are a distant memory by now. But it's never too late for a fresh start!

In the wake of our recent Three-Way Conferences, it's the perfect time to revisit those resolutions and set some new goals for the rest of the semester. I don't know about you, but looking back at my resolutions makes me want to hide under my bed sheets. Let's just say my page for New Year's resolutions is the least visited in my journal. Oops.

But giving up is not the answer! Whether you're busy or distracted, achieving your goals is still possible. The secret is perseverance...and a little bit of magic.

This magic formula has three powerful ingredients: growth mindset, systems, and progress. When combined properly, they can help us tackle our resolutions with more success this semester. A growth mindset keeps us positive in the face of setbacks. Systems break big goals down into doable steps. And progress reminds us that small wins add up.

Let's dig deeper into this magic potion for achieving our dreams! First, a dash of growth mindset...

GROWTH MINDSET. This is simply believing in the good of all situations, people, things and valuing mistakes as lessons for next time. A growth mindset is believing in yourself and in others. In Keys School Manila, a growth mindset is most beneficial in studies and learning. Not only is it important in academia but for your mental well-being too. A growth mindset is what makes dirt on the ground gold, and then putting the gold away because you realized that the journey of finding gold was much more valuable than the outcome. A growth mindset is the first thing your New Year’s resolution depends on for success, because it makes you stronger and more mature mentally as it allows you to grow from mistakes and failure. A growth mindset promotes patience in the understanding that small and slow progress is still good progress. This is what Keys School Manila understands as a progressive school. Progress is also best measured by small, slow but sure steps that lead to bigger, better results. With that, systems come in handy.

SYSTEMS. Here’s a tip, write down your resolutions in forms of systems, instead of just goals. Goals are amazing, but they’re focusing on the result and the prize of having that temporary feeling of achievement. Note the word: temporary. Systems are meant to prevent that. Sure, they’re harder to write and are more complex to understand, but they’d be easier and more beneficial to do, as they build small habits and mindsets that stick with you as you grow. In Keys School Manila, every time we have a goal setting task, there will always be a follow-up question “what are some ways you can work towards this goal?” I always admired that, because this builds the basic structure of a system. Our teachers make sure to remind us about our goals and I think that is a great way to motivate us to work towards them because systems should keep you motivated and focused on your growth. Not just reaching the goal, but seeing how far you’ve come, how far you’ve grown. 

PROGRESS. Keys School Manila is a progressive school. Meaning, the school is really looking for the students’ progress academically, socially, and mentally instead of just grades. Progressive learning promotes the growth mindset and its appreciation for the process and journey. This is what progress means to the teachers of the school: 

“Progress is about looking back into and examining previous experiences, and then thinking about and applying tangible actions that will be constructive or beneficial to a certain individual or group. Progress takes good consideration of all past and present experiences to better the future.”

“Progress is a change for the better.”

Notice how none of the definitions mention pace, amount, or size. Progress still counts, even if it isn’t doesn’t have an immediate effect on our lives. It doesn’t matter how many steps you took on the road, because you moved forward anyway. Even if you sometimes lose your way; even if you don’t follow some steps of your system, progress is also bouncing back from mistakes and failure. 

The time for resolutions is now, my friend! With the power of growth mindset, systems, and progress, we can make the rest of this semester our best yet. Sure, our goals may get buried under school work and other priorities. But progress isn't linear - sometimes we loop backwards, get a bit lost, and have to rediscover our path. What matters is that we keep moving forward with optimism.

At Keys School Manila, we know that progress comes in all shapes and sizes. Tiny steps still take us where we want to go. Momentary setbacks still teach powerful lessons. Each day is a new chance to commit to our goals with creativity and courage.

So let's revisit those dusty resolutions with fresh eyes! Dream big, start small, and celebrate every win along the winding journey. With resilience and the right mindset, we can make this semester one for the books. Ready, set, grow!