Learning to Ask Questions

I was in my final year of high school, and with the university entrance exams approaching, it was the most intense time of the school year. In chemistry class, we were studying “organic chemistry” for weeks, but unlike the rest of the class, I couldn’t understand a thing. Our teacher already had a fast-paced teaching style, and with such a complex topic, I quickly fell behind. I didn’t understand the diagrams or the different types of bonds she drew on the board, but I was too hesitant to ask questions. In a room where everyone seemed to be taking notes like they understood everything, I didn’t have the courage to say, “Could you explain this from the beginning?” So I sat in silence and decided to try learning from textbooks after class.

That night, I searched the topic online and watched countless videos on YouTube. But since every source explained it in a completely different way, I ended up even more confused. I had no other choice left but to ask my teacher at school.

The next day, during lunch break, I went to the teachers’ lounge and approached my chemistry teacher. I didn’t want to bother her too much, so I only asked about the parts I didn’t understand. But of course, with all her experience, she realized I hadn’t grasped the topic at all. Instead of explaining it right there in the noisy lounge, she said she would go over it again in class—from the very beginning. And she really did. In the next class, she explained it as if we were seeing the topic for the first time. I still didn’t fully master it, but I finally understood the basics. After class, I went up to her and thanked her.

That experience taught me this: Hiding what you don’t know doesn’t help you; it only pulls you further down and keeps you from learning. Saying “I don’t understand” isn’t a weakness—it’s an act of courage. In chemistry, engineering, or any other field, no one understands everything on the first try. What matters is to keep asking, keep searching, and keep trying.

Even now, when I don’t understand something, I still go through a small internal battle. But instead of staying silent and exhausting myself, I raise my hand and ask, “Could you go over that part again?” or “I didn’t quite get this bit.”

AI Reflection

While preparing this blog post, I asked ChatGPT the following prompt: “Create a fictional high school scenario involving a technical subject.” That prompt actually reminded me of a real experience I had during my senior year of high school. The outline that the AI provided helped me think through both the structure and the narrative flow of my post.

Even though I have a good command of English, there are still moments where I feel unsure or fall short. So I used tools like Google Translate and asked AI for help when needed. I also rewrote the message at the end of the post based on my own understanding of learning and personal growth.

What I wrote that only I could have written was the emotional weight behind the fear of asking questions—and the personal journey of overcoming it. The AI helped build the skeleton of the piece, but the feelings were entirely mine.