A big part of engaging kids in science is not getting the single

"A big part of engaging kids in science is not getting the single, correct answer; it's being willing to work with students to discover the correct answer." These profound words from Mae Jemison, an explorer of the stars and an educator of the future, carry a truth that echoes through the ages: the pursuit of knowledge is not a race to the right answer, but a journey of discovery, where the path is just as sacred as the destination. To teach is not to hand down answers as though they are precious relics of the past, but to guide the seeker, to walk beside them as they chart their own course through the vast unknown. In this, Jemison reveals the secret of true education—that it is not the answer, but the willingness to explore, to discover, and to engage that kindles the fire of curiosity in the hearts of the young.

In the days of ancient wisdom, it was not the scholar who was revered for having all the answers, but the wise teacher who cultivated in their students the spirit of inquiry, the desire to seek that which was hidden from sight. Consider Socrates, who, with his humble questioning, did not provide answers to his disciples. Instead, he guided them to discover for themselves the depths of knowledge. His method was one of engagement, of dialog, of exploration. In this, he became a model for the educators of generations to come. The path to truth, Socrates knew, was not one of unchallenged certainty, but one of constant questioning, of working together to unearth the hidden gems of wisdom that lay buried beneath the surface.

And so it is with the children of today. The world they will inherit will not be a world of fixed truths, but one of endless possibility, where the journey is as important as the destination. The lesson that Jemison imparts is clear—science is not merely a matter of memorizing facts or achieving perfection, but of exploring the unknown, of testing hypotheses, of discovering through trial and error the mysteries of the universe. To engage a child in the wonders of science is to invite them to embark on a voyage, not to a fixed point, but to a vast and uncharted horizon.

In the year 1969, when the great astronauts of humanity touched the moon, they did not do so with a single correct answer in mind. They did not set forth thinking they knew everything there was to know. Rather, they ventured into the unknown, with courage in their hearts and a willingness to learn with each step. Neil Armstrong, the first to step foot on the moon, spoke not only of the triumph of the human spirit but of the collaboration, the learning, and the discovery that led to that momentous achievement. It was not one individual’s knowledge that brought them to the moon, but the collective work of those who dared to ask questions, to explore new frontiers, and to work together to uncover answers that had not yet been imagined.

In our own lives, we must ask ourselves: when we teach, when we guide, do we merely present answers, or do we offer the chance for the seeker to embark on their own journey? Are we willing to walk with our students, to share in their excitement, their wonder, and their challenges? To teach is not to possess knowledge in isolation, but to share it, to engage in the great dance of learning together. This is the wisdom that Jemison imparts: that the journey of discovery, of learning, is as important as the knowledge itself. The answer is not the end; it is merely a step along the way.

Therefore, let us take this lesson into our hearts and into our classrooms, our homes, and our communities. Let us embrace the act of discovery rather than the mere act of knowing. Let us ask the questions that lead to deeper understanding, and let us encourage our students to search, to seek, and to wonder. For in the act of seeking, they shall find not only the right answers, but also the courage to continue their search for truth, no matter how elusive it may be.

In your own life, take the lessons of Mae Jemison, of Socrates, and of the great explorers who walked among the stars. When faced with the vast mysteries of the world, do not shy away from the unknown. Instead, approach it with curiosity, with a heart full of questions and a mind open to the journey. And when you teach, whether it be in the classroom or in the quiet moments of your life, remember that the act of learning is not about possessing knowledge, but about discovering it, together. For it is not the single, correct answer that matters, but the willingness to engage, to explore, and to seek out the wonders that lie hidden within the world.