There is a strange kind of silence that happens in a classroom right after a teacher asks, “Any questions?” It feels like everyone suddenly forgets how to talk, even if many students are confused. I have been there many times, sitting at my desk, heart beating fast, with a question ready to ask but unable to say it out loud. It is not that I do not want to learn or that I am not paying attention. It just feels much harder than it should be to ask questions in class, and I know I am not the only one who feels this way. One big reason students stay quiet is because they are afraid of looking silly in front of others. According to scientificamerican.com it shows that almost half of students in large classes say they never ask questions during class. In another study from cdc.gov, high school students asked only about 2.4 questions per class hour, and those questions came from just a few students out of hundreds. Many students say they worry classmates will judge them or laugh at them if they ask what might seem like a “dumb” question. I remember once in math class, a student asked a simple question, and some kids laughed. I felt bad for him, but I also thought, “That could be me.” It feels like we are all trying very hard to look smart and not make mistakes. Sometimes teachers make this worse by moving too fast or seeming annoyed when someone asks for help. But it is not just about being afraid of what others think. Sometimes it is just being shy. I know many students who are very smart, but the idea of speaking in front of the class makes them very nervous. I used to be like that. I would practice my question in my head, trying to say it right, but by the time I was ready, the moment was gone or someone else had already asked. Studies have found that most students do have questions, but they hold back because they are afraid of how others or the teacher will react. In fact, one study from samhsa.gov showed that 72 percent of students who do not ask questions say that it is because they are afraid of a negative reaction from the teacher or their classmates. While waiting for classrooms to feel safer, there are some things students can do. One thing I do is write down my questions as soon as I think of them. This helps me understand what I am confused about and gives me a clear question to ask later. Another thing is to find a friend in class to talk to after the lesson. It is less scary to ask questions when you have someone to support you. So what can we do to fix this problem? I believe it starts with making classrooms more welcoming. Teachers can help by telling students that questions are good and show that you care about learning. They can also give time for questions or let students ask without saying their names. As students, we should remember that if we are confused, others probably are too. By being brave and asking questions, we can help make school a place where everyone feels safe to learn. After all, research shows that asking questions helps students understand and remember more and that is what school is for.