I was working on this section while listening to a Podcast and loved this guest's line “We as social scientists, our real laboratory is overheard conversations.” Around this time I was on a retreat at a conference center. During the dinner I picked up a discussion from the table behind me that was taking place between a teen and an adult. The boy said “I know so much more now at sixteen. There are still a lot of things I don’t know, but compared to when I was five my understanding of the world is so much greater compared to that age. Just think of how much I will know ten year from now and ten years after that.” Now that I have passed through the other side of those stages of learning it is sad when I realize how much unlearning needs to take place. Much of what is widely held often isn’t always investigated by that majority. Life is filled of illusions which makes it difficult to navigate. The beautiful façades can often be latched onto by youth who are generally more idealistic by nature. Teens can be aware of bad things in the world of course but as time goes on what is often thought to be good often crumbles to the rubble of reality when scrutinized.

Ignorance is bliss isn’t an accrete sentiment but it does offer temporary happiness at the time. The part of the adage that is not true is that if learning stops at a point the person’s woes will begin compounding. I started thinking about how ignorance would have played with the boy at the top of the page from the yearbook tribute memorial. I have little doubt he only experienced life in a more serene way. No social media which meant relationships were really genuine. The 9/11 attacks were still two months away so you wouldn’t have to wonder if your qualifications to run the country were roughly on par with the president due to letting the 9/11 attacks happen and invading countries he does know about. You would like to think that leaders are picked by qualifications rather through a process similar to that of a dynasty. Clearly that isn't the case. As I was Googling content for this site I accidentally came across a shooting victim at my middle school while I attended. I actually forgot about that since the tribute from my yearbook is written in such a poetic and vague style that it didn’t stand out in my mind. I have memories of students reading that section and asking if she died because they couldn’t tell. She moved to the neighborhood Eckstein is in from West Seattle to get away from an area her sister called dangerous. She died in March so there would have been little time to put yearbook content together which likely wrapped up in April or May.