Teaching has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. I have learned far more than the simple act of “teaching what I was trained to teach,” and for that reason alone, it has been a true privilege. Some people may find it exhausting or even frustrating at times, while others — like me — are able to see the light beneath the surface and appreciate its true colors.
The process itself offers a unique opportunity to reach countless personalities, stories, and attitudes. It feels like a game — an endless one — where you search for a hidden treasure within every single person you meet along the way. That is precisely what makes it so enjoyable to me.
To get straight to the point, many people have pointed out that I have only spent a few years in the field — and they are right. However, that does not mean I have not lived the process as a genuine adventure, one that constantly sets new goals and challenges. I clearly remember 2016, when I began what was supposed to be a one-year commitment: training a new generation of future English language teachers. Months went by, and soon I started hearing the phrase, “It seems you are doing things right.” As a result, I was offered the opportunity to teach for a second consecutive year.
And that was when it happened.
I met a girl wearing cool sunglasses — slightly socially awkward, with an almost annoyed expression, yet carrying a strangely familiar aura. It felt like meeting an old friend. Her name? Let’s call her Ardnajela.
I met this girl with a defiant look, and somehow I felt an immediate curiosity to get to know her better. I can barely remember the last time I had tried so hard to connect with someone — not even in my younger days, when flirting seemed to come naturally. Anyway, while I continued doing my job, I also began my own little side challenge: getting to know her.
I am not someone who enjoys drawing artificial lines around relationships. In fact, calling someone “my friend” has always been a challenge for me. I believe friendship is often a matter of natural designation rather than deliberate labeling. If a relationship is meant to be named as such, then it will find its way there. Of course, I am fully aware that teaching undergraduate students involves a power differential and a clear hierarchy, but that does not necessarily mean friendship cannot blossom — it simply takes on a different form than relationships between social equals.
I know the struggle is real. There have been cases where boundaries were crossed, sometimes at different levels, but I hesitate to label all of them as ethical violations. Much depends on the genuine intentions behind those relationships, although I acknowledge that they can certainly be problematic from many perspectives. This is why honesty — both with oneself and with the other person — becomes essential. Asking whether it is truly friendship helps keep things clear in the long run. Above all, openness remains the safest and most honest path.
There is often criticism surrounding relationships formed with those we are “not supposed to” connect with, socially speaking. Yet, in this particular story, we never forgot who we were or where we stood. We both intuitively understood that something was developing — even if we were far too stubborn to fully acknowledge it at the time.
Now comes the good part.
She was always an energetic student — committed, determined, and willing to push herself further every single day. I began to admire her story, her inner drive to test her abilities, and her constant search for something more. As a teacher, I deeply valued how true she remained to herself, to her roots, and to her ideas about teaching from a renewed perspective. These qualities allowed her to succeed, to raise her standards, and to see me not only as a teacher, but as someone who was there to support her — and, when needed, to shake the ground beneath her feet during the final stages of her journey. Something that, in all honesty, she needed to wake up from her fairytale.
Long story short — we became friends.
It has been an adventure spanning many years, and there is not a single day when I do not care for her a little more. Through her, I feel I have met a new version of myself. And I allow myself to believe that I may have had a similar impact on her life. The moral of this chapter is simple: when you meet that person, do not let them go. They may be there for a reason. She taught me that I, too, needed someone to shake my world — because I needed a life teacher as well.
I prefer not to tag people — something I learned from her — but she is undoubtedly someone I admire deeply, someone I refuse to let go of, someone I waited a long time to meet. That is why I treasure every moment by her side. She went from being an S to becoming a true B. And even though she believes people are only temporary, I will still proudly call Ardnajela — also known as Alejandra — my bestie.
It's been a great adventure. Getting to know each other in so many way, it's a blessing from the universe. I love who you are, and how despite you aren't my teacher anymore, I've learnt a lot from you
ResponderEliminar