Seven People Broke Up With Me :(

I'm kinda bummed out. I've lost 7 students in the past couple of months. Not only is that a pretty good cut in pay - about $300 a month, but also, these are students who I've invested so much time and effort into. I'm sad to see them go :(

Teaching is like managing tons of little relationships. You have to be so much wrapped all into one. You have to make your students feel good about themselves, highlight their flaws in a gentle manner, always be patient and ready to explain yourself, look out for their best interests over your own, always push them to be their best, and so much more.

So, when a student stops studying with you, it's like they're breaking up with you. You get all those same feelings you get when a relationship ends. You start to question whether or not you were good for them, or whether their heart was really in it. You start to wonder if they ever enjoyed their time with you, and you wonder if the reason they left is because of you.

It's funny that there is a parallel between teaching and relationships. Remember how it felt when that one special person broke up with you? Now imagine 7 people breaking up with you, one right after another. It really breaks my spirit :(