Whether in school, the workplace, or just life in general, a person’s success is often determined by how one thinks. I wish to discuss two types of thinking that can help a person be successful -- proactive thinking and reactive thinking.
Both of these ways of thinking are necessary to succeed; however, a proactive way of thinking may require more practice to develop. The ideal goal would be to develop both and know when to use each way of thinking. A successful Darlington student must be both a proactive and a reactive thinker.
A reactive way of thinking is responding to a crisis after it has already occurred. It includes finding solutions to problems already on hand. The down side of only being a reactive thinker is that it is often stressful and the repercussions of the crisis may have permanent effects that could have been prevented, if only a little more planning took place beforehand. However, reactive thinking is a necessary way of thinking for day-to-day life management, as not every situation and circumstance is predictable, and often times, dealing smoothly with an unexpected crisis is a valuable skill to have.
Being a proactive thinker requires a bit more work, but, if done right, will prevent one from dealing with problems in the future. This way of thinking requires a bit of foresight and the ability to anticipate how actions and events may play out in the future. The proactive thinker will assess the likelihood of a crisis happening before it actually occurs by thinking of all possible outcomes. There is an element of risk involved in proactive thinking because often times, predictions are wrong. It is important to still be able to deal with the realities of the day through the use of reactive thinking, while continuing to look ahead and plan using proactive thinking.
Being a proactive thinker is a choice that one has to make. It is a skill that has to be learned. Reactive thinking, however, does not require as much effort because everyone will be forced into this type of thinking throughout life while dealing with problems. The key to success is to be proactive and think ahead so that problems are altogether avoided inasmuch possible.
So how does this relate to the classroom? The key to being a successful student is to be proactive. Students should learn what is expected of them and make every effort to meet or exceed that expectation. Figuring out how to accomplish that task is part of the battle. It starts by listening and paying attention in class. Learning about the information presented in class is only a small part. Students must also learn about their teachers and put forth effort to get to know them. This helps teachers to better know their students and when that happens, learning is more effective.
A proactive learner will figure out how he or she learns and attempt to make that style compatible with each teacher and class. He or she will take personal responsibility for learning, not be afraid to take risks and fail, and will adapt to new circumstances. The proactive student creates a plan of success, including a study schedule, time management, and self-discipline, and executes it. The value of being a proactive thinker is great, as it is useful throughout high school, college, and later in life and in the workplace.
