By:  Lauren Pedersen

The ethereal beings that dwell on academy “wings” are unique to the community that is The Gatton Academy. They are rarely spotted outside their natural habitat and are only seen outside due to class, social interaction, meals, or research endeavors. Within their domain, residential counselors, or RC’s (here at Gatton, we love our acronyms) are absolutely essential to their survival. Each RC ensures that students have clean rooms, a somewhat stable mental health, and a supply of Walmart and Kroger runs. Staple elements of wing culture include playing ultimate Frisbee (rain or shine), video games, an unhealthy obsession with climbing random objects, carbs, and Netflix. Wing culture can be partially accredited to the work of community developers (CD’s), who give each wing a unique theme and guarantee that even the strongest of hermits will occasionally drop their introverted tendencies.

Overall, wings are thriving environments that support lasting friendships and provide help with any problem a student could possibly have. After all, here at Gatton, we are just winging it.

Pop quiz. Which of the following do you agree with?

1. You are a certain type of person, and there is not much that can be done to really change that.
2. No matter what kind of person you are, you can always change substantially.
3. You can do things differently, but the important parts of who you are can’t really be changed.
4. You can always change basic things about the kind of person you are.

Statements 2 and 4 reflect the growth mindset which purports that a person’s qualities can be improved upon through effort and perseverance. On the other hand, statements 1 and 3 embody the idea of the fixed mindset, or the belief that a person’s qualities are permanent and resistant to change.

I know for many seniors the preceding statements produce fits of unwanted adventure week PTSD centering on reading the book “Mindset” (I cringed as I made this reference). However, reminiscing upon my first year at Gatton, I have found surprising truth in the growth mindset. Upon arriving at The Gatton Academy, I believed in the growth mindset, but I didn’t think it would directly affect me. Other people could change, but I was different. I was as stable as the oxygen we breathe. But just as oxygen changes when it forms chemical bonds, the bonds I formed with my classmates transformed me. Perhaps it was the 2 AM code debugging, the Netflix movie marathons, and the numerous kindergarten days that facilitated this change. Gatton has allowed me to venture down an endless path of self-exploration. At my home school, in Knox County, I was known as “that smart kid”. However, in an environment where each student reflects these qualities, it enabled me to shape myself into so much more. I have become an extroverted introvert, an avatar, a pilot, a procrastinator of laundry, a researcher, and a SCUBA diver.

I am eager to continue my journey of self-exploration through my senior year. I hope to teach my juniors how to maximize their meal plans, navigate campus like a true college student, and take advantage of not only the academic opportunities that Gatton has to offer but the social aspects as well.