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Kangnaa Singh
Mrs. Lynette Shaw-Smith
Contrasts/Comparisons Essay
ENG 107- MW 3:00 pm
April 17, 2023
The Time When I Became a Rational Thinker!
It was a day that will forever be etched in my memory when I was confronted with an
overwhelming barrage of decisions. I don't know if my proclivity for procrastination had
anything to do with my predicament because the volume of decisions and work I had to do was
substantial. Whether it was big choices or seemingly inconsequential ones, I needed help to make
the right call. The sheer volume of options was daunting, and I needed help finding a sense of
organization or direction. My father observed me stressing out due to this and decided to impart
some of his wisdom to me because this is a family trait. He constantly emphasized the
importance of being a rational thinker. Moving on from that day, whenever I did something
wrong or could have done a task better, he would ramble on about the value of rational thinking
and how it changed his life in a better way. To my surprise, his words prompted me to reflect on
what it means and feels like to be a rational thinker and how significantly it distinguishes me
from an irrational thinker. I started to develop a more analytical thought process. A rational
thought process improved my life in ways I never imagined.
I became an individual who made clear, informed, and logical decisions. Before learning
about the importance of rational thinking, I often needed to carefully consider all available
information before making impulsive decisions. I was guided by my emotions, biases, and
beliefs, which often clouded my judgment and resulted in poor outcomes. In retrospect, my
decision-making process could have been better, rather it was illogical and imprudent. This
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approach caused me to miss valuable opportunities and experiences that could have enriched my
personal and professional life. Furthermore, my irrational thinking often led me to take actions
that were not in my best interest. For example, I would prioritize my short-term desires over my
long-term goals, which hindered my personal growth and development. For another anecdote, I
was supposed to decide whether to study for my exam the next day and ask my friends to visit
the amusement park some other time, but I chose not to hurt their feelings and ditch learning.
Later, I was burdened with much learning and only a little time to finish it.
On the other hand, as the veil of ignorance lifted from my eyes and I became aware of the
benefits of rational thinking, I realized that my otherwise haphazard approach to decision-
making was a recipe for disaster. However, armed with my newfound wisdom, I began to take a
more measured and analytical approach to life. I meticulously evaluated the pros and cons of
each option and weighed them against my values and long-term goals. With the precision of a
surgeon, I dissected complex problems and arrived at practical solutions. Gone were the days of
reckless impulsiveness and irrationality; I now embraced the saying, "Measure twice, cut once."
In the past, I used to make impulsive purchases and didn't consider the long-term consequences
of my decisions. However, after adopting a more analytical approach, I carefully evaluated my
options before making significant financial decisions. As a result, I could save money and invest
in my long-term financial goals, such as saving enough for next month's rent. This
transformation helped me become more successful in my personal and professional life, and I
now understand the value of being methodical and strategic in all areas of my life.
Apart from this, ever since I gave logic, evidence, and facts more importance, I could see
myself growing, opening more to change, and not clinging to just one belief my whole life. In the
past, I used to think that people couldn't be changed and that we just grew more into the person
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we were born as. I even supported the argument that "mathematical skills are all determined by
genetics." When my dad encouraged me to practice more and improve my math scores and
speed, I often responded, "It's not in my genes to be good at math, so I don't think I'll be able to
perform better." I held onto my beliefs and ideas even when presented with new beliefs and
opinions. This was just one example I was so rigid that I could not improve in any aspect of my
life and never learned anything new. Having a fixed mindset at such an age affected me more
profoundly than I comprehended.
At the other end of the spectrum, I was open to new ideas and information after
developing rational thinking. On the road to becoming a logical thinker, I also became a person
with a growth mindset. I found myself always fishing for new information and developments in
any sector I was interested in. Returning to the math debate, I finally recovered from the hubris
that I couldn't improve at math. With constant practice and some focus, I was now the new math
wizard of my school. I was winning competitions right and left, and teachers recommended me
as a tutor to struggling students. I was now viewing obstacles, setbacks, and dead ends as
opportunities to learn new skills or improve the ones I already have to become even better.
Before, I would have never enrolled in a course for public speaking as it would help me develop
my confidence and improve, but now, I am open to taking any number of classes to do that
because I know that it would benefit me in the long run, and I am open learn new techniques and
skills. This recent change in my personality helped me land many job opportunities and the most
important achievement of all--- getting accepted into ASU.
Subsequently, as I developed a growth mindset, I underwent a profound personality
transformation that allowed me to be more receptive to new experiences. My reluctance to try
new things in the past stemmed from my tendency to remain within my comfort zone, where
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familiarity and security were paramount. For example, I never tried fresh food because I was too
scared it would taste bad. My palate, as usual, remained the same all the time, and I never gained
any new tastes or experiences or learned what I should be eating or shouldn't be eating. My
closed-mindedness was causing a considerable lack of personal growth and development as I
was less likely to seek out and learn from different viewpoints. It hindered my creativity and
progress because it required learning new things. Not to forget, I was more prone to prejudice,
discrimination, and judgment because I was strictly closed to any further information or change
in opinion. There was a time when I thought famous people always treated their fans badly and
with contempt. I had this preconceived notion about celebrities because of the numerous videos
and news reports I had watched, and I never wanted to meet anyone.
However, my newfound mindset enabled me to challenge this pattern of behavior and
seek out opportunities that were once beyond my reach. This newfound eagerness to explore has
manifested in various ways, from trying new foods to visiting new places and experimenting
with my wardrobe. As a result of my growth mindset, I have become a more adventurous and
informed individual. I now understand that experiences are opportunities for growth and
development, and I strive to pursue them wherever possible. The knowledge I gained from these
experiences has allowed me to expand my horizons and cultivate greater self-awareness. One of
the most noticeable changes in my lifestyle has been my newfound passion for food. Before my
transformation, I was a picky eater. But now, I am a true foodie, eager to explore different
cuisines and try new dishes. Food is not just about sustenance but is an opportunity to connect
with other cultures and expand my palate. In addition, I had less prejudice and stopped making
snap judgments about people based on what I saw on Instagram or in the news. Instead, I made
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an effort to comprehend their viewpoints and histories before forming an opinion about them. I
was able to develop empathy and open-mindedness as a result of this.
Last but not least, I have come a long way from an unbiased decision-maker to a growing
person who always tries new things to someone clear, organized, and focused. Before all of these
personality transitions, I always needed clarification. Having a fuzzy brain hurt my chances of
getting into many competitions, classes, and courses I wanted to participate in. With all the
fuzziness came the innate ability to be as unorganized as a human being can be because I was
never able to figure out which task needed to be done when and later ended up having a pile of
work to do at the last moment. This hurt the quality of my job because I had tons of work but less
time to do it. I always lost points on silly things because I was too much in my head and
confused to even notice the mistakes I had made. My thoughts were so out of order that it was
almost a full-time job trying to articulate them and convert them into something that reflected the
best of my ability. I had the caliber and the thoughts but needed more focus and organization to
present them mess-free. I was struggling so much that I began to consider giving up and letting
everything go. Perhaps someone else can assist me with this.
A rational thought process made me articulate my ideas in a carefully structured order
that helped me decide the most crucial aspect of my argument and what must be addressed. This
improved my work, and my grades followed as well. I was now receiving an A+ on every
assignment I turned in. More confident by the day, I was crushing every chore in my daily
routine and still having fun. I was on time with everything and sometimes even a week early
because now I could rank my tasks according to the urgency with which they were supposed to
be completed. Life is now stress-free as I am concerned about work all the time. My clear
thought process has helped me develop a healthy routine, improving my physical and mental
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health. I am more active and happy now. Additionally, the rational thought process allowed me
to identify my strengths and weaknesses and focus on areas that needed improvement. I became
more self-aware, which helped me set realistic goals and objectives. This, in turn, led to better
time management and improved productivity, allowing me to achieve more in less time. The
improved grades helped me live a stress-free and fun life at ASU. I was able to create an
amazing study-life balance where I not just had fun or just studied rather, I did both. My parents
are shocked, especially my father, with the way I am now. I am more confident, organized, and
happy.
To summarize, my life improved when I started to employ rationalization in my decision-
making process. The journey toward becoming a rational and analytical thinker has been life-
changing. I no longer make impulsive decisions but evaluate my options carefully and make
practical choices. This transformation has enabled me to achieve personal and professional
success by opening up new possibilities that were previously unattainable. The past year has
been amazing, full of experiences, and fun. Adopting a growth mindset has made me more
receptive to change, new experiences, and learning opportunities. I could not be prouder.
