Everyone remembers a teacher who marked his own life. What made it unforgettable? Why was it etched in the memory?

I imagine the biggest reward a teacher can get is finding a former student after many years and hearing something like, "wow, you've made a difference in my life." After all, isn't it the teacher's goal to make a difference to his students? The contents given, for the most part, will be forgotten and perhaps nothing left over the years, except for this mark that the teacher managed to leave.

Asking current teachers about the teachers who marked their lives, everyone had some recollection and some explanation as to why that particular teacher became unforgettable for them. Here are some of the answers I found that led me to discover a factor common to all teachers who become unforgettable:

These teachers did not make a difference by the amount of knowledge they had about their subjects. Who has never had bad teachers who had a huge load of technical knowledge? The level of specific knowledge is not what makes a teacher remarkable.

These teachers marked the lives of their students because at some point and somehow they truly demonstrated that they cared about the student. And all the interviewees agreed that this is the common point among these outstanding teachers: to truly demonstrate that they care.

James Comer says, "no meaningful learning happens without a meaningful relationship." For example, a teacher the student doesn't like who tells him "don't use drugs, because you're hurting your future" is very different from a teacher the student considers a lot and who feels that he really cares about him saying "don't use drugs, because you're hurting your future."

Perhaps here is the real difference between the success and failure of a teacher with his actions to prevent drug use. Something simpler and deeper than your training, content, or prevention strategies: a meaningful relationship.

To close with a golden key, I leave here the message transmitted by someone with an encouraging testimony. A gift to the teachers!

Source: Raphael Mestres