Not flattery

Here's an excerpt from an e-mail sent by a former student who has moved to another school...

"I have yet to have an instructor as good as you. It's not flattery, but the honest truth. I miss a good lecture like from you or Mr. Other Biology Instructor."

It's nice to hear stuff like that. I'm not trying to brag here, but I am trying to show that I notice and appreciate the good things students have to say just as much as the bad stuff annoys me. I by no means think I am some great instructor and I am continuously trying to better myself as a lecturer, although sometimes it is rather difficult. I mean a lot of times I feel like I should put the same amount of effort into lecturing as my students do into learning. If I let that feeling win out all of the time, I would be a horrible instructor. I just hope it never gets that way.