Emotional Connections

For those who are unaware, teaching is a career built on relationships with students. Successful teachers are mentors, advisors, and all around supports for students and their families. We are emotionally connected to students, sharing the joy of success and feeling the pain of failure. We are filled with pride when a student demonstrates citizenship and we are filled with disappointment when a student demonstrates foolishness. The roller coaster of emotions is felt by all teachers, and we only ever want to increase the positive experiences of our students.

I have been recently working with a former student who is on the road to dropout. His poor choices are depressing to watch, but I am involved because I know that the positive relationship we took time to build in the past can redirect him. It is difficult to watch a student fail, but I am hopeful that my support will lead to more positive emotions for this student and myself. This is the center of being a teacher. Reaching out and providing help while looking in the face of likely failure, because I know he is worth it. I'll let you know if he gets back on track.

Teachers, please share your stories of helping students to become more than they have believed possible.