Socratic Seminars. Some students breeze through them with no anxiety; many others dread and stress over them. All it entails is talking to each other about one broad topic or – in usual cases during English classes – about a book. The goal is to reach a single, unanimous conclusion through conversing and questioning.

I like talking about books and learning about other people’s opinions. However, this activity of being in a circle of desks with students who are known to relay their views easily and openly is a daunting task for shy and quiet people like me.

I am more of a listener and I really live up to the phrase “Think before you speak.” The ideas that flood into my mind take a long time to form into verbal sentences, especially since I have the tendency to review them before I release those words.

Whenever the circle is finally silent or when there is an opening to segue into a new topic or question, another person has taken their chance to speak by the time I finally think of something to say. Perhaps my mind should develop ideas faster or I’m just too hesitant and careful. Either way, it’s a quite frustrating process of thinking and trying to relay my thoughts.

I know that socratic seminars offer the opportunity for students to practice saying their opinions openly in a supportive and educational environment, but at times, students still stay on the sidelines; those who aren’t as confident take a while and need lots more practice to produce the courage to speak. It’s even more disconcerting and nerve-wracking when you know that your grade is on the line and is based on the amount of times you speak and how profound your thoughts are.

On the other hand, some people are naturals and their phrases come out intellectual and descriptive, with barely any hesitation or fear. It makes me question whether there is any fairness in how kids are penalized for not being able to voice their opinions as easily as others.

The intentions for socratic seminars were well-conceived and I am not a proponent for the removal of this activity. However, I still sometimes want to raise my fist up at Socrates and ask him the question I think of a lot when the time for socratic seminars comes around: Why?