Best compliment ever?

Having left the science department, oddly I was there all day today, covering for an absent teacher.

In the morning, we did pond-dipping then in the afternoon I took a class to the STEM careers fair that the school was hosting. People from several local companies did their utmost to get the students interested in careers in all sorts of science, technological and engineering fields. There were loads of activities and games to do and swag bags to fill with freebies - it was great fun!

Over the years, I've often been named as the member of staff the students with 'issues' most felt they could talk to and in a staff briefing recently the Headteacher announced I'd given out the most achievement points. All very heartwarming but the best thing ever was today, when one of my former Year 8 students came up to me and begged me to come back and teach their lessons. She is a terrific young lady but suffers with dreadful anxiety and seriously lacks confidence. I always try and make her laugh and she's been doing really well, getting her highest grade ever on the latest test. When I said I couldn't come back, as she had the new teacher now, she said 'But you're my emotional support animal, Miss!' OK, you had to be there but, honestly, that's the nicest thing a student's ever said to me!  

<sniff>