Words have a big impact on people, especially the ones that leave a person hurt or unsure. Some of the most frequently used words can have the most meaning, including the phrase “I don’t know.”  This phrase can be good or bad depending on the context, and can be used to mean a lot of things. “I don’t know” can be good when you say you don’t know something and are asking for help. “I don’t know” can also be bad because it could mean you aren’t trying, or you don’t care. It could also be used to lie and say you have no idea what’s going on when you really know exactly what’s going on.  “I don’t know” does seem to be people’s go to when they choose to hide something. Some people just really don’t want to talk about things, so they use this phrase as a default saying for them. It’s almost like it’s programmed into the back of their head: they might not even think and it might just be said by accident. I don’t know is sometimes an act of help, without the person actually saying ‘I need help.’ “I don’t know” can also be a way of saying “no” without actually saying no. It’s okay for people to not know things, but people should say what they mean or want. Communication is the key to  success in life. If you talk to people, ask questions, stay involved in what’s going on, and express your opinion, then you will be very successful and you won’t have to say I don’t know when really you will be confident enough to give a straight answer.