There’s no doubt that teaching is a wildly difficult and often thankless job.

Here are their heartwarming stories.

Note: This post contains mentions of self-harm and suicide.

Teacher and children engaging with colorful blocks on a table in a classroom setting

“When I was a first-grade teacher, I had a student who was moving away in March.

He’d made a lot of progress in all areas, particularly his selective mutism.

“On his last day,his mom wrote me the most heartfelt card.

Teacher and students are engaged in a joyful high-five at a classroom desk

Meghan, 42, Illinois

3.

My first students are now in eighth grade and ready to graduate this year.

They told me this year that those notes are the thing that gets them through every year of testing.

Teacher interacting with young students at a classroom table with a laptop and educational materials

I was asked to teach a creative writing class at an adult education school.

For me, that was a stupendous achievement for both the class and us.

This was 20 years ago, and to this day, I am still proud of her.

Students raising hands in a classroom with a teacher in the background

I hope she’s done well.”

Niki, 52, Australia

5.

“Pre-K teacher here!

Students in class, one raising hand to answer, indicating active participation and eagerness to learn

I turned around so quickly!

I saw her and knew right away it was her.

We saw more of her personality come out every day with us.

Teacher giving a high-five to a student in a classroom setting. Other students are present

By the end of the year, she spoke a six-word sentence!

We were so proud of her, and I was sad to see her go.

She changed my perspective forever, and I will never forget her.

Graduates in cap and gown shaking hands with a faculty member at a graduation ceremony

Not all students develop at the same rate, and THAT IS OK.”

6.

“I had a student move to the country two days before school started, knowing absolutely zero English.

It was the fall of 2020, so we knew the world had been turned upside down.

Woman presents on whiteboard to colleagues, in a classroom setting

She had an extremely difficult time with this transition.”

COVID was HARD, and teaching through all of it was even harder.

jessicawerner

7.

A student raises their hand in a classroom while the teacher engages with the class

Last year, I had an autistic student who had a really tough start to the year.

He was combative, had major outbursts, and needed so much support just to get through the day.

“The kindness of the students can take your breath away.

Four colleagues take a selfie at a bar, expressing camaraderie with drinks on the table

They had been fundraising at their local mosque and Islamic thrift stores over the weekend.

That weekend, they mobilized friends and family to raise money for my son’s charity.

They said it was part of their religion.

Maybe so, but the kindness was incredible, and I just burst into tears.”

evilsorcerer68

9.

“It was my first year at a new school, and I was teaching grade two.

I had a student on my list, let’s call him S, who everyone warned me about.

k44e0cf560

11.

“In my first year in my current classroom, I had a student who was selectively mute.

Obviously, I thought something bad had happened, but my ‘What’s wrong?’

was met with ‘I just got into college!’

Eileen, Massachusetts

13.

G, I love reading because of you!

Thanks for giving us time to read what we wanted to.'

I’ll never forget that I helped share my love of reading with at least one kid!”

He’s now happily married and gainfully employed, and I’m so proud of him!”

bethechangeyouwanttosee

15.

“I teach English as a Second Language, and my students range from 4 to 70 years old.

I had a Japanese man in his 50s whose English level was quite low.

He was relying on his children and grandchildren for everything.

“I teach first grade in a low-income school in an inner-city neighborhood.

I potty-trained him, taught him how to brush his teeth, hold a pencil, etc.

He is also autistic and rarely shows emotions or socializes with the other kids.

Our school has a dental clinic, and I referred him to get his mouth checked.

He came back from the dentist and was in so much pain.

He was the first kid in my teaching career where I felt like I was starting from scratch.

Anonymous, 24, Ohio

17.

I could tell he was caught off guard when I told him this.

As he was leaving the class, he told me nobody had ever said that about him.

It broke my heart.

As subs, we don’t know the kids, so it’s a clean slate every day.

“I had one student three years in a row.

This student was LGBTQ, and I knew he had difficulties with family at home understanding him.

But I still left teaching.

It was so stressful, but never because of the children.

The policymakers, the administration, the testing, and the unreasonable expectations drove me out.”

Anonymous, 38, Florida

19.

Note: Responses have been edited for length and/or clarity.

TheNational Suicide Prevention Lifelineis 1-800-273-8255.