Asking Questions and Finding Answers
I make car rides unbearable, or at least I did when I was little. My constant questioning drove my father crazy. Gazing out the window, I would ask about every structure, object, or image that crossed my line of sight. If a plane flew over, I would ask about engines; if we drove by a Microsoft store, I would inquire about the development of computers; and if a bird swooped by, I would begin a never-ending line of questions about flight. With my rapid-fire questions, I explored the world through my dad’s perspective. My father’s omniscience seemed to provide all the answers to my questions, or so I thought.
Plain answers weren’t enough, I needed proof. My thirst for knowledge needed to see and feel the answers to my questions. I started by ripping apart my action figures and RC cars. Eventually, I moved on to more complex ventures like desktop computers and VCRs. Tinkering satisfies my inquisitive hunger and makes me feel capable. With my knowhow, I can upgrade my computer in minutes, help my mom fix the TV, and make an ink cartridge shoot out of my pen. But what’s knowledge without sharing?
On our comradely bike rides, my friend and I eagerly banter about the new discoveries and ideas we have to share. Over the whirring tires, shifting gears, and rushing wind, we shout about who we’re voting for in the primaries, Kashmir’s revoked autonomy, and Fed interest rate cuts. During intense conversations, we often switch our drafting positions, enabling the rider in the back to hear every nuance of the leading rider’s argument, while they catch their breath to get ready for their retort. Cycling across Iowa, our ideas were often polar opposites, but we bonded over our shared passion for an informed perspective and the willingness to participate in discourse.
My friend’s willingness to vocally disagree taught me to embrace the productivity behind conflict, and now I immerse myself in discord whenever I can. When I get in the car, I equip myself with a diverse range of podcasts, which broaden my perspective on the world. Each of the podcasts I listen to involves the clashing of ideas and opinions, with Stephanomics featuring two economists discussing trade, More Perfect recounting Supreme Court cases, and Philosophize This! discussing Carl Schmitt’s critique of liberalism. While the discussions occasionally appear to be heated arguments, each debate is actually a well-orchestrated feat of collaboration, with each individual contributing to a joint effort to improve theory and policy. Podcasts teach me history and philosophy, but also expose me to individuals working in concert to combine, question, and rework ideas for a better future.
Knowing the power of these discussions, I joined debate, where I strive to create change through advocacy and voice. While I’m a normal student during the week, most weekends I’m a policymaker who flies to New York, Atlanta, and Chicago to argue about gun control, military spending, and the Cuban embargo. Through debate, I’ve learned how to research international relations, economics, and domestic politics and utilize my findings to blend logic, persuasion, and evidence into a compelling argument. At tournaments, I try to win over my judges, but this is just practice for my future aspirations. During dialogue with world leaders, I hope to discuss policy for sustainable development and, through research, find new methods to alleviate growing global inequality.
But really, I’ll be doing the same thing I’ve always done: asking questions and finding answers, discussing and reworking ideas, and promoting progress. After all, systemic change begins with questions and materializes with collaboration and implementation.
These days, during rare car rides with my dad, the conversation isn’t as one-sided. Every car ride with my dad brings an exchange of perspectives and ends with greater understanding on both sides. Despite the tables turning, I’m sure one thing remains the same: my dad definitely still gets annoyed sometimes.