Samuel Tolbert
A Case-Based Look at How Reflective Writing Fuels Growth Mindset and How ETA’s Thought Seeking Model (TSM) and MV-SOAR Framework Make It Transformational
In classrooms across the country, particularly in under-resourced and urban colleges, many students walk through the door carrying more than backpacks—they carry generational pressure, academic doubt, and unresolved internal narratives. Yet one of the most underutilized tools for transformation may already be in their hands: a journal.
A powerful study titled “Journaling to Develop Growth Mindset at an Urban Community College,” published in the Journal of Ethnographic & Qualitative Research, examines how structured journaling assignments helped community college students shift toward a growth mindset through intentional self-reflection. This multiple-case study followed students enrolled in college success courses and found that when students were given space to write about challenges, effort, and personal growth, their internal beliefs began to shift—and so did their behavior.
What the Study Revealed
The research explored how journaling, when used consistently in a guided format, helped students begin to:
Recognize their thought patterns around failure and effort.
Rewrite limiting narratives such as “I’m not good at math” or “College isn’t for me.”
Document emotional triggers and unpack why they were reacting to challenges the way they were.
Move from passive learning to proactive thinking, reflecting not just on what happened—but what it meant.
Rather than abstract theory, the study presented real students and their real stories—students who used reflection as a form of personal renovation. By the end of the journaling period, many participants expressed more hope, agency, and intentionality, hallmarks of a developing growth mindset.
The Thought Seeking Model (TSM) at Work
ETA’s Thought Seeking Model (TSM) is designed to rewire mindset by addressing the internal layers that influence thought: beliefs, reinforcement, actions, emotions, and thoughts. Journaling naturally walks students through this five-step transformation process—often without them realizing it.
Here’s how journaling aligns with the TSM:
Beliefs – Writing invites honesty. Students begin exposing what they really believe about themselves, others, and their future.
Reinforcement – When a student reads their own words over time, they begin to identify patterns—positive or negative—that either reinforce progress or highlight self-sabotage.
Actions – Journaling about struggles often leads to commitments: “Next time I’ll ask for help,” or “I’m going to schedule study time.”
Emotions/Feelings – Putting feelings into words reduces emotional fog and builds emotional vocabulary, a key to emotional intelligence and resilience.
Thoughts – As belief and emotion become clearer, new thoughts arise: “Maybe I am capable.” “Maybe I’ve just never had the right support.”
Journaling is more than a therapeutic tool—it’s thought seeking in motion. It allows the mind to slow down long enough for the soul to speak.
MV-SOAR and the Written Word
The MV-SOAR Model—Mindset, Values, Strengths, Obstacles, Accountability, and Responsibility—is another powerful ETA tool that aligns beautifully with journaling. Students don’t just reflect; they self-discover.
MV-SOAR Pillar | Journaling Application |
Mindset | “How did I respond to failure this week?” |
Values | “What does my reaction say about how I see myself?” |
Strengths | “What strength did I use to push through this situation?” |
Obstacles | “What keeps showing up in my journey, and how do I face it differently?” |
Accountability | “Where did I fall short of my own expectations?” |
Responsibility | “What will I do next time to shift the outcome?” |
Each prompt becomes a mirror. Each reflection becomes a movement. Each journal becomes a living roadmap from self-doubt to self-mastery.
Implications for Urban and HBCU Campuses
For many students in urban and HBCU contexts, journaling is more than academic—it’s restorative. It’s a space where students reclaim their voice, rewrite their narrative, and reframe their worth—on their own terms.
For colleges, this is a low-cost, high-impact strategy. Journals can be integrated into:
First-Year Experience or Orientation Courses
Mental Health Support Services
Academic Advising or Career Counseling
Residence Life Reflection Nights
SOAR App Prompts and Daily Reflections
No tech. No budget spikes. Just paper, pen, and power.
Final Word: Write the Future You Want to Live
At Elevated Thoughts Academy, we believe that your words are your architecture. What you write becomes what you believe. What you believe shapes what you pursue. What you pursue determines who you become.
Journaling is not busywork. It’s belief work. It’s a spiritual, psychological, and academic habit that helps students move from thoughtless reaction to intentional growth.
So here’s your challenge: Grab a notebook. Choose a prompt. Be honest. Be raw. Be reflective. Because the breakthrough you’re seeking may already be inside you—waiting to be written.
Reference:
[“Journaling to Develop Growth Mindset at an Urban Community College.” Journal of Ethnographic & Qualitative Research. Vol. 17 (2023).]