Ryan Reichert

Being Professional

I could not count the number of times students of mine have brought personal problems to my attention. It almost seemed like it occurred on a daily basis.

What I did to conteract this was to listen, not give my opinion on the issue, and squash it as quickly as possible. As much as I wanted to relate to them or give personal experiences, I could not; especially if it involved outside-the-classroom experiences. The reason why I avoid these issues is the notion of professionalism.

Am I there to be their counselor or am I there to be their instructor? I had to ask myself that question on multiple occurances during this past semester.

I wanted to share my experiences at times, but I knew my decision was the right thing. I am not their "buddy," I am their instructor. I saw this even more within a high school setting, but that is another topic. Drawing that line is key to become a good instructor.