Learning Too Much And Knowing Too Little
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Learning Too Much And Knowing Too Little

What we all need to learn from the new song, Maybe IDK, by Jon Bellion.

18
Learning Too Much And Knowing Too Little
Medical Daily

Jon Bellion, a famous musician, released a song this past week called "Maybe IDK."After listening to this way too many times, of course, I have really grasped the meaning. The song starts by listing questions, some being "I wonder why I miss everyone, yet I still don't call?" "I wonder why I feel hopelessness when I watch the news?" He goes on to say things like "Well if I knew tomorrow I wouldn't need faith." "I guess if I never fell, I wouldn't need grace." Finally, he tops each verse off with the chorus. "Maybe I don't know, but maybe that's okay."

There are a couple things that stand out to me in this song. One big thing is the overlying theme. This issue of always feeling to know the answer is one that comes along with my generation. We are the first generation to not know the world without the internet. This ability to have access to everything you could ever want to know is draining. Not only is it draining, it creates the feeling of constantly needing to know. I am no better than anyone else, my parents constantly tell me I need to be better at being wrong. I like to be right. I enjoy having the feeling of intelligence and knowing something someone else didn't. So maybe sometimes I won't know, and maybe that's ok.

Another important thing I hear in this song is the line "Well if I knew tomorrow I wouldn't need faith." The expectation in my town is that you go to a good college and get a good job and live a good suburban life. The kids at my high school constantly feel pressure to have everything figured out. I mean how can you choose which college to go to if you don't know your major? Because you need to pick a school that has the best program for your major right? These are 17 and 18 year-olds you are asking to have their entire future mapped out. Trust me, I am one of those kids. At 1:30 a.m. first semester of my sophomore year I remember my dad calling up the stairs "Riley, you forgot to turn the office lights off." I replied, "No dad, I'm doing AP Euro, and I still have some AP Psych."

The response from my father was not what I expected. Instead of "Ok, finish your homework." I got "Riley, this is insane. Go to bed." It started a whole conversation about how I needed to stay up. How if I did bad on my AP Psych test, I could get a B in the class, and how could I go to college with a single B! Looking back, it is insane. It's all insane. The definition of insane is repeatedly doing something that hurts you. I was averaging five hours of sleep a night. I was "working" 100 hours a week, and I never felt like I finished anything. True, now I can tell you that according to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, a person will search out food before love. Or, King Henry the Eighth had six wives, two he divorced, two he murdered, one died, and one survived. But what did I not learn because I was doing homework? I could've been participating in a sport and learning teamwork and keeping my body healthy. I could've started a new club at my school and learned leadership skills. I could have volunteered and learned to be grateful and have humility. But hey, I might get three college credits instead!

My main point in this is you don't have to know. I have two possible career paths I'm thinking about right now. Graphic design/journalism or medical school. When asked the question where do you see yourself in ten years, I don't know. And that's okay! Our generation is growing up too fast. You don't need to have it all figured out. Maybe you know, and all the power to you. But maybe you don't know, and maybe that's okay.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
houses under green sky
Photo by Alev Takil on Unsplash

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

Keep Reading...Show less
​a woman sitting at a table having a coffee
nappy.co

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life.

86951
college students waiting in a long line in the hallway
StableDiffusion

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Keep Reading...Show less
a man and a woman sitting on the beach in front of the sunset

Whether you met your new love interest online, through mutual friends, or another way entirely, you'll definitely want to know what you're getting into. I mean, really, what's the point in entering a relationship with someone if you don't know whether or not you're compatible on a very basic level?

Consider these 21 questions to ask in the talking stage when getting to know that new guy or girl you just started talking to:

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

Challah vs. Easter Bread: A Delicious Dilemma

Is there really such a difference in Challah bread or Easter Bread?

52955
loaves of challah and easter bread stacked up aside each other, an abundance of food in baskets
StableDiffusion

Ever since I could remember, it was a treat to receive Easter Bread made by my grandmother. We would only have it once a year and the wait was excruciating. Now that my grandmother has gotten older, she has stopped baking a lot of her recipes that require a lot of hand usage--her traditional Italian baking means no machines. So for the past few years, I have missed enjoying my Easter Bread.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments