by Katherine Reilly
If one were to ask you, what are the most vivid recollections you might have of your childhood, in most cases the answer would likely concern your school years and the relationship you had with your teacher. The impact this bond can have on an individual is without a doubt the most inspiring and everlasting in your life.
Being a positive role model for a young member of our society should not be taken lightly. Students look up to their icons on Social Media or Entertainment, as well as their parents. However, the direct interaction a child has with the person who will guide him in the most crucial steps of his life, is without a doubt of the most significance.
Therefore, a teacher must be aware of such a responsibility and not take his duties lightly. Inspiration, compassion, support and of course unconditional love, are traits an educator must adhere to and thrive to realize, as his actions will have both an emotional and intellectual impact on his young scholars.
The positive outcome that will flourish thanks to a healthy relationship between the two aforementioned parties can lead to better results in class, improved self-esteem and of course inspiration, leading students to pursue their own goals in life. Many a time, have I witnessed my own children in class, benevolently invested in my words, striving to exceed their own limits and set higher goals. This is one of the most, if not the most satisfying and heart-warming acts of appreciation a teacher can experience.
Concerning the means to establish such a relationship, it goes without saying that if the pursuit of building a positive relationship with one’s students is strictly for professional purposes, then there is no point in teaching. An educator should wholeheartedly be invested in his students’ welfare, be it in class or in personal everyday extracurricular activities. Having said this, a keen interest in their endeavors such as sports or music is mandatory. Furthermore, when a child in class seems preoccupied or frustrated, it is not only a teacher’s responsibility to attend to the child’s concerns, but the humane thing to do. A teacher’s role in most cultures is almost equivalent, if not equal to, that of a parent. It should be considered an honor for the educator to be held is such high regards not only by his students, but society as a whole.
If you are a teacher and you are reading this, keep in mind that we are privileged to be educators, as the fruit we bear, outweigh all the demands and responsibilities that entail our line of work. Those late night test corrections seem less frustrating now, don’t they?
Katherine Reilly 