News and Knowledge

Why are positive student-teacher relationships important?

I think that the more people in your support system, the better! Not only do they lead to career and academic opportunities, but building a student-teacher relationship allows you to have someone on your side during school. There were parts of my undergrad that were difficult (due to both academic and personal reasons) and having my professors understand really made a difference!

Can you share an example of a teacher who made a positive impact on you, either academically or personally?

I took Intro to Creative Writing my sophomore year and I’m so glad I did. That class allowed me to discover my passion, and my professor was there to support that growth. I appreciated how she always welcomed me into her office during her office hours. Her willingness to help me succeed— well, it worked!

Did any teachers support your learning style or access needs in ways that stood out? What did they do that helped you feel included, understood, or respected?

Building that relationship was helpful when I needed an extension deadline or had questions about a grade. She was always willing to listen when I wanted to talk about why I was struggling, but she didn’t require it. It also comforted me due to the content of the course. Creative writing classes can be vulnerable, but she always made me feel safe and reassured while giving feedback on my pieces.

Were any of your college professors also mentors during or after college? If so, how did that relationship grow over time, and how did their mentorship support you?

Yes! That same professor served as my faculty advisor when I became editor-in-chief of the university’s magazine. She was the one to originally suggest that I join it, so it was awesome to have her along that journey!

What advice would you give to other students about building strong relationships with teachers or mentors?

Go to your teacher’s office hours! Building those relationships takes work. Make sure to set aside time to do so.
Also, remember that your teachers want you to succeed! You might feel nervous meeting with them outside of class, but they will be happy to see you put in that extra effort.

If you could change one thing about how teachers are trained to support neurodivergent students, what would it be?

Offering those listening ears! Even if they are not trained on neurodiversity, I think the same principle applies to everyone. When you don’t understand somebody else’s experience, it’s helpful to listen and collaborate on a solution that works for the both of you.

Noelle Hendrickson is an Accessibility Coordinator at Salt Lake Community College. She won the OAR Schwallie Family Scholarship in 2022, writes for various magazines, and is passionate about seeing college students succeed. She can be found at noellehendrickson.com