Teachers are great, right? OK, maybe that is a bit of an exaggeration. Some teachers are great. We've all had that one teacher reminiscent of Robin William's character in "Dead Poets Society" or Mr. Feeny from "Boy Meets World," the kind that makes school feel like you're doing something important. Can we agree upon that? OK. Having many of this type of teachers in my life has made me into a sort of teacher's pet. These people are a different breed. Here is a list of things only former teacher's pets will understand.
1. Defending your favorite teachers.
When your slacker friends all complain about the teacher and you have to stand there and say, "They aren't that bad."
2. Academic honesty is what separated you with the rest of the student body.
For example, when the class would do last-minute reviews on the whiteboard seconds before the test would be handed out and the teacher forgets to wipe down the board. And guess who would tell the teacher about their mistake. That's right. You would. The teacher's pet. Or you would remind them that there was homework and this was your world:
3. Trying to tell your classmates that you didn't get a good grade because the teacher likes you.
"You get the grade you deserve" is the only armor that teacher's pets possess.
4. The pride you felt when you get back the A+ paper and see a little message on it.
5. Inside jokes with teachers.
Maybe you said something funny after class about "Hamlet," and whenever they would get in a bad mood you would just say the joke and everything would be OK.
6. Weird and impersonal gifts.
You would stroll the halls of Walmart or Hallmark or some store with Is and As and Ms and Rs trying to find the perfect Christmas gift. Most of the time it would be far from perfect, though.
7. Actual meaningful gifts.
But when you would get it right, they would be the most important gifts, like their favorite book from middle school.
8. The inevitable special treatment.
Whether it would be that you got to have food in class or that you could use their printer once in a while, being the teacher's pet definitely had its payoff in one way or another.
9. Your teachers were your number one fans.
Even in times when it seemed like they weren't, the ones you were close to were truly rooting for you. And if you are lucky, they still do.
This was kind of a nerdy approach. I get that. But it is mostly a thank you to the teachers who have believed in me so much that they made me believe in myself. Thank you for all you've done.
