**Ignorance is Bliss **

The speaker reflects on a high school experience where he, being unathletic, participated in cross country despite being a terrible runner and finished last after walking the entire route. Despite feeling embarrassed, he was later recognized with an award for his perseverance, as most of the team had quit mid-race. The speaker's obliviousness to the embarrassment and lack of consideration for quitting highlights how ignorance can sometimes be an advantage in pushing oneself forward.