Teachers: Have you ever become close/friends with one of your students? (Middle School/High School)?

Question

This is in reference to yesterday's question, which i didn't really get any solid answers, so here it is again, phrased differently.

Have you ever become friends with one of your old students? Say, when the graduated or left the school, Did/Do you still keep in touch with them, if not, would you like to?

Have you ever had a student who looked up to you and admired you, but at the same time was like a friend to you?

If this student has left, Do you miss them?

Do you miss any of your old students? (Etc.)

Thanks.

Answer 1

i teach 8th grade and so when my students go off to high school i do miss them sometimes.  i do have students that keep in touch through email.  they may email about once every couple of months and thats fine with me, most of the time they are letting me what they are up and sometimes asking for advice.  not sure if i necessarily think of them as a friend.  like if i were telling someone about an email they send i would probably say my former student and not friend.  i have never developed a friendship with a student that went beyond emails.

Answer 2

My students are in upper elementary but I miss quite a few of them.  Some of them send me a letter every once in awhile.

Answer 3

I don't have time to miss my old students because they are replaced by new students who need my time, energy and attention.

I haven't been teaching long enough to have students who are old enough to be my friends.  The teacher/student relationship is one where the power is unequal.  It's hard to translate that into a friendship.

But, I do have friends now who were my teachers when I was a student, but we're more like acquaintences.  One of my best friends is very close friends with her high school English teacher.  She's 38, he's 65.

Are you hoping your teacher will be your friend or are you trying to find justification for being friends with a student?