19/12/2021
A lot of people comment "I’m proud of you, Teacher."
First of all, thank you.
However this is a really weird thing to say to a teacher.
Students aren’t usually proud of their teachers. It’s usually the opposite. Teachers are usually proud of their students.
Let’s talk about why.
If you are proud, you have a very positive feeling about your actions, your identity, or the actions of someone close to you.
Let’s look at some examples.
First, let’s talk about being proud of your actions or achievements.
I’m proud that I graduated from high school. This means that I feel very good about myself because I graduated from high school. That was a special achievement for me.
I’m proud that I built a successful business. When I think about my business that I built, it makes me feel good about myself. I feel that I am special.
Now, let’s talk about being proud of your identity.
I’m proud to be Nicaraguan. This means that I have a strong positive feeling about myself that comes from my Nicaraguan nationality. I believe that I am special because I am Nicaraguan.
I’m a proud democrat. This means that I have a strong positive feeling about myself that comes from my identity as a a democrat. Being a democrat makes me feel good.
Now, finally let’s talk about being proud of another person.
When we are proud of another person, it is usually someone who we know personally. A family member, a close friend, or maybe a student.
And it is usually because they did something very good or very difficult.
For example:
-My friend had a drinking problem, but he has not drunk alcohol in five years. I am proud of him.
- I am proud of my daughter, because she always treats other people with respect.
-I am proud of my student, because after months of hard work, he finally passed his exam.
My mother can be proud of me. She is very close to me. She has watched me grow from a baby into an adult. She has seen me achieve difficult things in my life.
My high school teachers can be proud of me. They worked closely with me for several years. They helped me to grow and to learn. They can feel special about who I am now, because they knew me when I was much younger, and they helped me to become who I am now.
My manager can be proud of me. She knew my when I did not have knowledge or experience. She helped me and watched my as I worked hard to become a better employee.
For 99% of my followers, you do not have a close personal relationship with me.
You haven’t known me for a long time, and/or you have never met me in real life.
And you don’t really know about the things that I have done in my life. You don't know what difficulties I have faced or what things I have accomplished.
There is not a reason for you to be proud of me.
However, you can be proud of YOUR identity as a follower of this page.
You don’t feel good because you have watched me work hard, learn, and grow. You haven't done those things.
You feel good because you are a member of this page, and this page makes you happy.
So you probably shouldn’t say “I’m proud of you,” because you don’t know very much about me or my life.
But you definitely CAN say “I’m proud to follow you,”✅ or “I’m proud to learn with you.”✅
However, I still think that that is a weird thing to say.
The most normal things to say to a teacher would be something like:
I appreciate your lessons.✅
I really enjoy learning with you.✅
I am grateful for your support.✅
I don't see any reason to be proud.
Teacher Mike
