Teachers can make a lot of differences in charting the route of their students' lives. Their words, their actions, all have great impacts on students' mentalities and future course of actions in almost every decision that they make. For most of us, we spend 5 days out of 7 in school, and we spend at least half the day in school, with our teachers around us. What they say about you, and how they act towards you, will surely affect how we feel about ourselves, and how we behave in the future.

A teacher's encouragement can help students to push themselves harder and not give up on themselves. I was once failing several subjects in my course of studies, and I was on the verge of giving up. I had the mentality that since I had tried so hard and my results did not improve, I might as well give up and concentrate on my stronger subjects. My teacher sat down with me and had a talk with me, taking the time off his busy schedule to listen to my worries, and before he left, he told me, "To succeed in life, the first thing you need to learn is to have the determination and the right mentality. Having low confidence in yourself will not help matters. I believe in you, so you have to believe in yourself." I was shocked, and after taking the time to reflect back, I realised that I had indeed given up on myself too early. I was lucky to receive guidance at the right time from my teacher, or else I might not have gained confidence in myself, and might have given up so many times in the future, when I had the chance to succeed.

How a teacher treats his/her students will also reflect on the students' behaviour in the long run. When a teacher loves his/her students, actions will speak louder than words, and students will appreciate their teacher's efforts to guide them along and teach them. Many a times, students will complain about how strict their teachers are, or how naggy they are. However, thinking back, such teachers had been strict or naggy not because they wanted to be, but because they did it out of love for their students. Thus, as students, we should appreciate the things our teachers have done for us over the years, and not just find faults in them.

I am now training to become a teacher, and I hope that I will make a difference in the lives of my students, and help shape the future of the society as a whole as well. Afterall, the younger generation will become the future pillars of the country, won't they?

Learn more about this author, silencedreamer.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about What difference do teachers make??
We want to hear your view. Write now!