We always remember our favourite teachers and what impact they had on us. It’s also easy to recall the ones we didn’t like so much…
I remember at high school hearing a rumour that a certain girl at school hated me. So I did what you’re supposed to do and hated her back. For three years we threw each other dirty looks, but never communicated.
Then, in year 12, I was late for my first biology class and the only seat left was… next to HER! I stopped, frozen at the door. I couldn’t sit there. After a minute, which seemed like an eternity, my teacher asked me if I was going to sit down or was I waiting for Christmas? I sat, reluctantly, on the seat next to the girl who hated me; who I hated back. We got to talking, realised that we actually had a lot in common and that neither of us actually hated each other as the rumours had been spread by other people. We started hanging out together, shared a house for a while when we were at Uni and have stayed lifelong friends.
Ok, it’s true… you can’t be best friends with everyone you meet. There will be some people you become instantly best friends with and others you will always clash a little with. It’s true, some people will form an opinion of you based on prior information given to them; we all do it. The problem is, when you NEED to get along with someone with whom you clash.
Imagine walking into your dream job (sports star/vet/architect/astronaut), only to realise you clash badly with your boss, who has formed her own opinion of you based on where you did your training. Are you going to walk away from everything you’ve always wanted because of that one person?
The same can be said about your teachers. There will be some you get along with better than others. But somehow it would be great if you could bridge that gap with the ones you don’t get along with. Are you going to let one person get in the way of reaching your goals?
Try starting fresh with your teacher. Write an email or arrange a meeting and let them know that you’re going to try and make their class one of your new systems, that you’re going to start making new habits in their class. Ask for their help. Communicate. You don’t need to make them your best friend, but taking the first step will not only make a whole year in their class a lot easier; it will be a great step towards a positive future.
