“Not knowing something does not make you stupid, it just means you simply didn’t know it”.
I remember the first time I heard this which was almost 5 years ago. We were in English class going over a book we had recently read in class. Ms. Aponte was talking about the book and I remember raising my hand to ask what a word she had used meant and she continued to give me the definition. After that, I looked over to a friend of mine at the time and I remember saying these exact words, “I feel so stupid for not knowing that, how did I not know that”. This is because I have a really bad habit of making myself feel the worse when I don’t know something that I feel like I should know. But that’s where I go wrong every single time, because I’m still learning. I realized there was a whole lot of self depreciating behavior coming from my part. No one else around me would call me out on it other than myself.
It’s one of those things I felt like my friend was saying just to make me feel better in the moment. However, as time went on I noticed how much of a deeper meaning those words had. I can’t imagine how many opportunities I’ve passed on just for the simple fear of looking “stupid” or how many more are to come that I’ll regret not taking. Now I know that those words mean I shouldn’t criticize myself so harshly for something I didn’t know and instead pat myself on the back for learning something new. There are still moments to this day in which I’ll THINK those words about myself when learning something new but I start to think about that quote from my friend and it helps so much. With time things have gotten better and I’m confident the day will come in which I applaud myself when learning something new instead of bashing myself for not knowing it.
ANA- Again you strike me as a mature young lady. And someone I wish would share more in class! I hope in time you will.
Is this part of a pattern of behavior? Do these words from this friend [NAME] echo through your mind at other times? Is this part of a bigger story? OF something BIG you have learned about yourself and how to change your mindset? Or is this just a minor episode? The way you have written it here, it does not sound so big. So what I am asking is this: Can this be the seed of a bigger story? Or does it end here?
SO ——-
We were in English class going over a book [WHAT book] we had recently read in class. Ms. Aponte was talking about the book and I remember raising my hand to ask [DETAILS ā WHAT was the word? WHAT Did you say exactly? what a word she had used meant and she continued to give me the definition. After that, I looked over to a friend of mine at the time and I remember saying these exact words, āI feel so stupid for not knowing that, how did I not know thatā.
FRIEND NAME turned to me and whispered reassuringly [MORE DESCRIPTION of her attitude],
[new par new topic] This is because I have a really bad habit of making myself feel the worse when I donāt know something that I feel like I should know. But thatās where I go wrong every single time, because Iām still learning. I realized there was a whole lot of self depreciating behavior coming from my part. No one else around me would call me out on it other than myself.
Itās one of those things I felt like my friend [WHO? Name?] was saying just to make me feel better in the moment. However, as time went on I noticed how much of a deeper meaning those words had. I canāt imagine how many opportunities Iāve passed on just for the simple fear of looking āstupidā [CAN You give other times this has happened? Is this a pattern and do those words from FRIEND NAME echo in your mind?]. or how many more are to come that Iāll regret not taking. Now I know that those words mean I shouldnāt criticize myself so harshly for something I didnāt know and instead pat myself on the back for learning something new. There are still moments to this day in which Iāll THINK those words about myself when learning something new but I start to think about that quote from my friend and it helps so much [YES good here. AND could this be an essay with a few of these moments highlighted as events that show the importance of that quote?].
YOu bring up some thing very wise in this bit of writing. Learning a new mindset, that you are STILL growing and learning — has this changed your attitude toward school? Can you turn this into a changing perspective about how to be a student in college? REmember we are headed toward writing an EDUCATION NARRATIVE. SO how have those words from FRIEND continued to echo in your mind in your school college life?
Are there other episodes when these words helped you to be kinder to yourself and open to asking when you don’t know…YOu are definitely NOT STUPID, Ana! š š