I think you should try to make the best first impression. If you don,t at least get it right the second time.
I beleive a smile goes along way and discussing words like Respect, Accountable, Responsible will have a great affect on being approachable.
I do believe it is called a "first" impression, because that it only happens the FIRST time. You, as an instructor, do continue to make impressions. It's just like the second chance, you mess-up once and someone gives you another shot at redeeming. After that, it's called a third chance and so on. You do only get ONE first impression, although that impression can become fogged by continued differnt behavior.
Victor,
People say this all the time ("You only get to make a first impression once"). And that is simply not true. A teacher makes a first impression every single time he/she walks into the classroom. Anybody can mess up once, especially the first time. It is only when a person keeps repeating the behaviour again and again that you really create an impression (good or bad). For example, on your first day, you arrive early to class, dressed in a brand-new suit and tie and have the entire class-time perfectly organized, down to the minute. But then for the next 10 classes, you are badly-dressed, late, and disorganized. People won't remember the first impression you made. They will remember the last one.
