You Can Learn It

There is a message I want every student to carry with them:
You can learn it.

Some students have accepted the idea that there are people that are “just born smart” while others are not. This belief is part of a fixed mindset. A fixed mindset is what happens when a student doubts their ability to learn something. It can cause them to give up quickly, avoid challenges, or decide that something “isn’t for them” before they even begin.

This matters, because the fixed mindset doesn’t only influence homework or test preparation. It can quietly shape college choices, career paths, and the direction of a student’s entire future. A student may talk themselves out of opportunities simply because they don’t believe they are capable of learning what those opportunities require.

But here is the truth:
Every skill is learnable.

No one is born knowing how to perform brain surgery. If a student says, “I could never be a brain surgeon,” what they really mean is that they don’t have those skills yet. And of course they don’t. Those skills must be taught. The same is true for solving algebra, writing clearly, interpreting reading passages, playing an instrument, speaking confidently, or mastering grammar. These abilities are learned over time.

Some students learn quickly.
Some learn slowly.
Some need more repetition or more guidance.
These differences reflect learning styles, not ability or intelligence.

A growth mindset says, “I don’t understand this yet, but I can learn it.”
The word yet keeps the future open.

This is especially important in test preparation. Reading comprehension can be strengthened. Grammar skills can be built. Math reasoning can be developed. Confidence can grow.

Higher test scores are not reserved for a certain type of student.
They are available to any student who is willing to learn, practice, and stay encouraged.

So I want to say this clearly, and I hope you truly hear it:

You can learn it.
And I’m here to walk with you while you do.