𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 🧐

I was in 9th grade when it happened.

I remember the walk down the narrow halls of Community High School, as I made my way toward, “Introduction to Literature.”

“Please don’t be taken.”

I felt my stomach turn as I turned the handle to either my greatest dream or my worst nightmare.

“Please don’t be taken.”

As I opened the door, it was still there.

The spot in the far, right corner of the room.

The place where I could never be seen.

“Excuse me.”

I placed the pile of 📚 onto the wooden desk to cover half of my upper body.

Then, I slid down the plastic chair to cover the rest.

The rest of my time was spent waiting for the big, round clock, to strike 09:40 AM.

Hoping not to be called on to read out loud.

I repeated such routine for months.

I didn’t expect this day to be any different.

Yet, it was.

The day that changed the trajectory of my life.

I remember as she made her way toward the center of the room.

“Please don’t call on me,” I whispered under my breath.

She proceeded by addressing the entire class.

I don’t remember much of what was said.

I just remember her final words.

“There’s no such thing as a stupid question.”

It took a while to process her words.

Part of me didn’t believe what I just heard.

Then, I felt it.

The sense of freedom or liberation.

I no longer had to ask questions that other people wanted to know answers to 🤯

For years, I kept my hand down.

I didn’t think others wanted to know what I wanted to know.

Her words gave me the permission to ask questions about anything.

Why❓

When❓

Where❓

How❓

What❓

Her words gave me the courage to pursue education of my own terms.

Thank you, Judith DeWoskin, for opening the door to a completely different 🌎

𝐆𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐛𝐞 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐮𝐬 🧐

Give Yourself Permission to be Curious