Why Do We Remember Some Teachers… and Forget the Rest?

Have you ever wondered why some teachers stay in our minds for a lifetime…while many are forgotten so easily? Let’s try to understand why.

A teacher is remembered when they understand a student’s talent, encourage it, and guide it in the right direction.

There was a time when a teacher’s role was not limited to merely completing the syllabus. It was about shaping the life of a student—helping them become an ethical human being, recognizing their unique abilities, and supporting them in growing those qualities. But today, many teachers have become mechanical, almost like robots. They are emotionally disconnected from their students. Their only aim seems to be finishing the syllabus and going home. There is little sensitivity left for what a student is going through—the mental pressure, the anxiety about career and life.

I want to ask today’s school and university teachers: do you no longer feel any responsibility toward your profession? Do you teach only for salary? Do you devote all your time only to research papers and conferences, while not having even five minutes for your students?

Here, I want to share my personal experience of what a great teacher truly is, and how such a teacher can change a student’s life. When I entered my master’s program, I was deeply troubled about my career. At that time, my great teacher, Dr. Shazia, understood my struggles. She showed me a path. She listened patiently to every concern I had, again and again, and gave her valuable time to guide me. She helped me find answers to my problems.

I also want to share an incident related to my writing. When I had just started writing on my website, she was the first person who read my articles. She encouraged me to keep writing and assured me that she would continue reading and reviewing my work so that I could improve. Without her encouragement, understanding, and guidance, I would not have written my book Journey to Discover Yourself, many philosophical essays, or even dreamed of becoming a philosopher and a great teacher like her.

I have shared my personal experience so that my voice may reach university professors, so that they step out of the narrow world of research and try to understand their students. They should recognize their potential and guide them toward the right path. And if this cannot be done, then I believe a A.I. can teach the University syllabus better.

In that case, what is the need for professors and teachers? This is a question every professor must ask themselves.