Respect from students doesn’t always come in the form of “please,” “thank you,” or “excuse me.” Sometimes, a student greeting you with “hey” instead of “Mr.” or “Mrs.” isn’t disrespect — it’s just their way of connecting.

Get to know your students. Learn their quirks. Let go of the ego. Allow yourself to be human.

Be real. Be authentic. Students recognize that, and they respond to it.

It won’t always be easy. Some students will struggle, and yes, some may fall through the cracks. That’s part of the process. And while you may not be the one who helps them rise, you might be the one who nudges them in the right direction — the one who plants the seed that someone else will help grow.

As educators, we don’t always get to see the impact we make. And that’s okay.

We have to be okay with that.