If ever a television show would say something that had depth, it happened in the first season of the Apple TV show, “Ted Lasso,” when the titular character, Ted Lasso, is locked in a game of darts against an antagonist, Rupert Mannion. Lasso tells a story about how he saw a statue of Walt Whitman with the quote “Be curious, not judgmental,” and how it related to his childhood bullies who were not curious because they thought they knew everything and therefore judged everything and everyone.

While the show misattributes the quote to Whitman, its lesson and context remain valuable in life, and I have no greater advice to give our graduating class and current students.

To be curious is to take the first step in all learning; but learning is not limited to the “book smarts” you receive in school. To be curious is to have a desire to understand life and those who share it with you. It is the first step in understanding and empathy.

Much of the conflict you will face in life will come from misunderstandings, from people unable to process their egos or past traumas. Navigating those issues with curiosity and understanding is one way to make the world a better place.

Curiosity will also keep you safe in an increasingly cynical world. With institutions such as the media in a weakened state, it is important to verify the world around you. In journalism, there is an adage that goes, “If your mother tells you she loves you, check it out.” I think it is a lesson that applies to all of us.

Too much of our “knowledge” is fed to us through paid influencers. Too much of our understanding is lost. In a time when tech companies are looking to make AI capable of simulating friendships, we must instead follow our curiosity and drive toward more human connection. 

Being curious and empathetic is what drove humanity’s greatness. It propelled us from simple tools to space travel. It is what will truly make us great again and help us to leave the world better for the next generation.

So, to the students and graduates out there: be curious, not judgmental. 

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