Week 36 – Learning to Ask Better Questions

Catch-up entry for 2026-09-23; written in October 2026. Reflections may refer to earlier experiences.

Looking back at my summer shadowing at The EyeSite and Ballard Modern Dentistry, I have been thinking about how to make future learning experiences more meaningful.

One place to start is the questions I bring with me.

Moving Beyond “What Is That?”

Naming a tool or learning a term can be useful, but I also want to understand the reasoning behind a decision. What information matters? What alternatives might be considered? How would that decision be explained to someone without a science background?

I do not need to know enough to make clinical decisions myself. As a student, my job is to learn respectfully and recognize the limits of my knowledge.

Listening Is Part of Learning

A good question also needs room for an answer. I want to practice listening closely instead of focusing only on what I will say next.

That feels relevant beyond healthcare. Whether I am learning in class or meeting someone through community work, curiosity works best when it includes attention.

This journal is becoming a place to practice that mindset. Each entry is a chance to choose one question, explore it honestly, and notice what I still do not understand. Progress can mean leaving with a more useful question than the one I started with.