Creator Mindset Essay

Why is it that some people blame others, while others blame themselves? According to the longstanding college professor, Skip Downing, the answer to this problem lies in his definitions of two roles that we all play: Creators and Victims. From his book, “On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life” Downing believes, in essence, that Creators are people who often snatch control of their destiny to create the outcome they wish it to be. They understand that they have the control to live the satisfying lives they pine for. Victims, on the other hand, are the exact opposite of that. They are the kind of people who fall into holes that they are adamant that they did not fall in it by themselves and are oblivious to the ladder that is in with them. They assume they have no agency and control over their lives. I’ve had first-hand experience with these roles in my life, both as a Creator and as a Victim (Downing, 42).

In the web blog by the name of “You Are the Prime Mover,” David Mirman asks the reader, “Do you think like a Victim or a Creator?” He recounts a story of two students who don’t have their textbooks. The first blames the bookstore for not having it, and that’s that. The second one, however, did not blame anyone. She went to every length to try and find herself a textbook. The difference here was that one of the students was a Victim and the other, a Creator. Mirman suggests that “Rather than continuing as a Victim, resolve to become a Creator.” It is a message that resonates immensely with my life."

During middle school, I blamed a lot of my problems on other people. One notable time was when there was a group project with five other people. Two other people and I were behind on the project, and it was due the following week. It did not matter if only a portion of us completed the project; we all needed to finish it to receive a grade. The other two were not interested in carrying out their part. Thus, it was not my responsibility to work for nothing, or at least that’s what I convinced myself. When the due date came around, it came as a surprise to no-one that we had irrevocably failed. It was only until much later in my life that I learned that I had a Victim’s mindset. It didn’t matter that I was doomed to fail, it was still my responsibility no matter the outcome. I could have been a much better person at that time.

Although I had a Victim’s mindset, there were still individuals in the world that I looked up to as Creators. Sam, an honor student from my high school years, was one of them. On every occasion, Sam tried to be the most outstanding he could be. When his work was late, he would stay after school and toil away. When someone was down, he would set out to encourage or motivate them. On one special and memorable occasion, Sam had learned that he failed an important test. His failure was surprising to everyone, who at the time knew Sam as a genius, and they were quick to start blaming the teacher who had graded the test, which in this case was a substitute. Sam, however, was quick to calm everyone down and asked to talk to the teacher after class. We learned later that day that Sam did, in fact, fail the test. Instead of arguing against the teacher or making a scene, he blamed himself and no one else. Unlike us, Sam was aware that he was not perfect, and he knew it was possible that he could fail and that there was always room for improvement. His upright behavior is still something I try to emulate to this day.

Undoubtedly, Sam’s conduct and deeds as a Creator left an enormous impression on my life and my desire to become a Creator as well. I have decided to be the first person in my family to graduate college and join the Air Force through determination, patience, and honesty. To graduate college, I do my best and better in all my classes. When extra credit opportunities pop-up, I’ll seize them. I’ll find or create a study group and I’ll find the time to study when I’m not busy. When I know I can produce a better essay, I’ll rewrite another one. I’ll use writing tools like Grammarly, PaperChecker, and any others I find useful. From here on out, I’ll scrutinize every aspect of my life and identify what I can improve. I’ll teach myself to not procrastinate and take the initiative in situations. I’ll learn to socialize with people, and I’ll learn to better take care of myself. I will achieve all of this to be a Creator. It is who I yearn to be and who I will be.

Works Cited

Downing, Skip. On Course: Strategies for Creating Success in College and in Life, 7th ed. Wadsworth, 2014.

Mirman, David. “Do You Think Like a Victim or a Creator?” You are the Prime Mover, 2 Jan. 2012, http://youaretheprimemover.com/2012/do-you-think-like-a-victim-or-a-creator. Accessed 16 Sep.2017.