Dear fellow mentors and educators - our words matter

Hello fellow mentors, educators and instructors,

Our words can mean a world of difference.

I received a note today from one of my former students about how an instructor's sharp comments left my student feeling deflated and demotivated.

This student, I know, works very hard. But the student has been penalized for trying to do more (since the student wants to know how things worked in the real world). 

I know different instructors/mentors have different styles. And perhaps how I think about this is different (or is it)? But I see my role as an instructor as someone who should add value to someone's educational journey. 

Students take classes or courses because they want to learn more. They want to improve, and move forward. Students don't usually come to our classes knowing the materials already (otherwise why would they take the class?). Students are not perfect. But neither are we, my fellow instructors. We are all humans. 

While students can (and will) stumble, isn't it our responsibility as educators to tell them how they can improve? How they can do better next time? Not to stop them on their tracks and tell them "you did too much", "this is complicated", "I don't know what you were thinking", "you don't get it". How about let's put our data to work, and provide specific instances so the students can know exactly what to do the next time around (or when they land that job)?

And the learning and improving is two ways, isn't it? We, instructors, are not perfect when we deliver our lessons either. Our students can help us improve. And we constantly need to improve. 

My plea, my fellow instructors, how about let's put ourselves in our students' shoes? They're just starting to learn what you're teaching. What was it like when we were first learning what we're teaching? When we had no clue what the topic was and we were doing lots of trials and errors (and more errors)?

• Can we help, not hinder, in their journey?
• If they truly messed up, can we help them mess up less next time? (Or help them not mess up at all!)
• Can we please be kind? Can we please be more empathetic? Especially in these challenging times where our students (and ourselves) are trying to juggle life, family, job (or job losses), health. 

Our words can mean a world of difference. It can mean giving them that extra bit of encouragement to believe in themselves and keep pushing forward. It can also mean that last piece of demotivation they can take before they give up their dreams.

Thank you, 

A fellow instructor

PS I am also a work in progress. I know I have moments where energy and patience get depleted, but I have promised myself to try the best I can to push people forward, not backward.