The job of a teacher should be one of the most relational professions out there. After all, in order to make learning stick, teachers ought to build rapport with their students and understand their charges' strengths and weaknesses like the back of their hand. After so many years in the profession, I think my fire hasn't dimmed yet, but I realise that if I take a step back and occasionally perceive my students as clients, I might just last longer in my job.
I think that being a teacher is draining because you give so much of yourself in an earnest attempt to help your students improve. However, your well-meaning advice may fall on deaf ears for various reasons. Your students may be receptive to your instruction but still fall back on unhealthy habits due to their impulsivity. Or your students are trying to apply your strategies, but it may take a while before they replicate them with some degree of success. Hence, if we become too invested in their progress, we are just gonna get bloody disappointed when we don't see them become better.
In this case, adopting a more detached approach might just be the way to go. When I regard my students as my clients and give them the targeted feedback that is aimed to help them become better people, I won't get upset when they are slow to change under my tutelage. Since I fancy myself as an experienced consultant dishing out advice, I have already fulfilled my responsibility when I highlight their learning gaps and character deficiencies. I have cheerfully relinquished control of the process to these young minds. By viewing them as clients, I let go of the angst that sinks me emotionally and clouds my judgement when they don't grow according to my expectations (and timeline!)
When I mentally categorise them as my clients, I ironically find that I do better for them. I dish out an actionable suggestion to a "client" and move on to the next one instead of being paralysed in mid-action. Dispensing my care like a trusty conveyor belt helps me be an exemplary service provider!
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