By Elle Gordon, TIWP Student
I don’t know.
I used to think I don’t know was a superpower.
To give myself permission to learn and explore.
I used to say I don’t know when my parents asked who ate the chocolate, or when I was asking my friend a question on the math homework.
I used to think I don’t know was pure,
Starting with a blank slate, not biases, just an opportunity to experience knowledge.
Now I don’t know is my enemy.
What I use to make myself small.
So they won’t know how much I really know.
So they won’t feel threatened.
I use it to play into society’s role it has makes for me.
So when I ask people what I will be like in high school they say “popular with a cute boyfriend” rather than “in honors classes” like the others.
I don’t know is what I use to set my expectations low.
Allowing myself to loose my motivation.
I have nothing to prove.
When people think you don’t know,
Then why try knowing?
It’s pure and curios nature has turned cold and self deprecating.
I don’t know how I feel about I don’t know,
but I do know I will take the power back.
