Everyone knows that school is a place for learning, but who says that it cannot be a place for connections too. Throughout middle school, I had a teacher who I was very close to and spent time with, not only in the class I had with her, but also during lunch if I did not want to spend time with my other classmates. During this time I built a strong bond with her, and it has made me the person I am today through the guidance she has given to me, and the way I go about life. I never thought that she could have such a strong impact on me, and I definitely never thought that other students could have the same type of connections with teachers as I did until my sophomore year of high school. I noticed relationships that students had with teachers, and I was very curious to see if they have noticed an impact in their life from it, as well as the teacher’s perspective on these relationships, and if they think it is important to have this type of relationship throughout life.  

I wanted to start out by finding a student who I knew had a very close relationship with another teacher, so I interviewed my friend, Amelia Tineo. She is the reason I was able to see these types of relationships within school because of her class with Mrs. Merle. Amelia started out her sophomore year in Mrs. Merles English class, and later in the year, Amelia started to form a better connection with her. When I asked Amelia about her relationship and why it is different from others that she has, she said, “Mrs. Merle is someone I can go to without judgement or gossip like other students.” Building these types of relationships can help students go about their year without drama and it can show them that there is always someone they can go to talk to if they are in a difficult phase of life or going through a challenge and do not want to be criticized for it. 

I then wanted to reach out and get Mrs. Merle’s perspective on not only her and Amelia’s relationship, but also the overall way she felt about her relationships with all her students. I asked Mrs. Merle what it is like being a teacher, and she said, “I wish I hated my job, the kids are the true reason why teachers teach. It is so rewarding to know that at the end of the day I am able to support and help them through their teenage years.” Teenagers are exposed to a lot of things nowadays, at such a young age, it is hard to be able to do everything on your own. Excluding parents or siblings, teachers can be a resource for students to go to about personal life if they are scared to talk to someone else about it. Having guidance at an early age can build a lifetime full of success, which can be measured by fame, family, or doing what you love. Mrs. Merle revealed that, “I want to be someone that my students can look up to and give guidance to. I try to build comfort between students and I, because without it, how can I even help?” Teachers are people that students can count on throughout life, whether they know it or not. 

One last point that I want to address is how important these relationships can be later in life. Amelia gave me her standpoint on this, by saying that it, “…can have a significant effect on the way you look at life. I am still so childish but in ways, I feel like I have developed in aspects in life that most kids my age have not because of the time I have spent with teachers and hearing adults’ viewpoints on real world topics.” Amelia expressed that growing up, she has noticed how fortunate she is to have her life and with connections with adults that are not just her parents or siblings. This can help her later in life by helping her to be aware of the things happening around her. These bonds can guide her in her career path when she is older or show her how to handle several types of tricky situations she may come across. 

In summary, the bond that I have created with teachers in school has shown me that there are so many students that go to teachers for advice, or just someone to talk to if they are nervous to talk to anyone else about their problems or situations. Reflecting on these relationships, I was able to see perspectives from another student and a teacher, and see how these bonds can affect students’ lives as they get older. Students are very lucky to have this outlet throughout their teenage years, and teachers seem to be especially grateful for the way they can impact and influence the lives of the younger generation as they grow up and become adults. These relationships are not something that should be taken for granted because they can affect many students lives in the long run.