Created a new account to share openly since this so resonated with me… I was told non stop growing up how gifted I was by my parents and teachers. When I didn’

Created a new account to share openly since this so resonated with me… I was told non stop growing up how gifted I was by my parents and teachers. When I didn’t get into my dream college it was earth shattering for someone receiving that level of praise. It was a personal failure. I started smoking weed, but quickly progressed to other substances. One time I’d smoked DMT right before a final. I’d rack up lines of coke to study (with a little whiskey to take the edge off). I kept not fully applying myself for the exact reasons in the article. It took almost a decade for me to understand having a growth mindset and I still honestly struggle with it. My big lesson here is to focus more on the process and less on the outcome.