Questioning can lead us to solutions to a problem. If we are in the habit of raising doubts as to whether what we are told is true, we can exercise our mind and discover more. Our English teacher Shengliver often encourages us to raise a question in class. He sometimes narrates inspiring stories to us before he asks us to question and retell. The stories plus the questioning are food for thought. And the retelling, though challenging, is a great way to build our language muscles.

One day two years ago, when I was in middle school, my maths master demoed an answer to a thorny maths problem. A bit strange as the solution was, nobody in my class doubted it except me. Suspecting my teacher’s idea might be faulty, I broke down the problem and tried to reason it out in a different way. Half an hour later, I managed to come up with a new way out. The instant I shared it with my teacher, he applauded me for my critical thinking. It turned out that my solution was way simpler and more direct. The questioning added to my ability to think creatively.

Over the years, I have come to see that questioning serves as a bridge that connects us not only to a better answer but also to a new world beyond. Those being challenged should not take offence, for it is a proven way to progress.