It’s high school graduation season here in Georgia, and it got me thinking back to when I graduated. A long time ago now—sigh.

I was the valedictorian of my class at Warner Robins High School. Nearly 500 students. I say that not to brag, but to share something I’ve come to realize: being valedictorian kind of messed me up.

To earn that spot, you need the highest GPA—which means acing every class. What it taught me—without me realizing it at the time—was that the outcome mattered more than the effort. I started evaluating everything through that lens: Can I get an A in this class? Not, Am I curious about this subject? I even skipped classes I wanted to take—Auto Shop, Weightlifting, Literature—because I wasn’t sure I could get an A.

That mindset followed me to college, where I also graduated at the top of my engineering class. Mistake again. I steered clear of classes that intrigued me simply because I was convinced I wouldn’t get an A.

I’ve been unlearning that habit as an adult—shifting from an outcome mindset to an effort mindset, what psychologists call a growth mindset. The term comes from Dr. Carol Dweck, a psychologist at Stanford University. Her research shows that people with a growth mindset believe abilities can be developed through effort and learning—not just natural talent. These individuals tend to take more risks, bounce back from setbacks, and ultimately grow further.

Even in my running, I’ve had to evolve into a growth mindset. There was a time when I only signed up for “fast” or “flat” races because my finishing time was all that mattered. I avoided races I was genuinely interested in—like the Marine Corps Marathon, Big Sur, and Philadelphia—because they were too hard, too hilly, and not “PR material.”

I’m better now. Not perfect, but growing in the right direction—and having a lot more fun.

Photo by Peter Robbins