Continuing my thoughts from yesterday, the very best part of teaching is when you form a bond with a specific student that lasts well beyond their graduation, whether a mentor/mentoree or father/daughter or son bond. Those students who visit you periodically for no specific reason other than to chat with you, who contact you regularly when they are in college either through IM or email. Those students are few and far between, but they leave a lasting place in your heart even if the students eventually drifts away after they graduate college.

On the other hand, the worst part of teaching is when a student with whom you form a strong bond drifts away from you before they even graduate. Sometimes it is just apathy on their part, or their personal life changes in such a way they no longer need or want your support. But you never really know if you have offended them somehow, even though you would never do anything to intentionally hurt them. But the rest of your life you wonder if your drifting apart was accompanied by their having bitter feelings towards you instead of pleasant memories.

I’ve had bonds with two students go that route, and both times hurt a lot. *sigh*