Has my strictness destroyed anyone?

After working as a full-time teacher for the past few months, I’ve got to question myself: “Has my strictness destroyed anyone?”

As a university student, I was a private tutor of some high school kids. All of them are boys and really naughty. However, they are all well-educated, so our journey was pretty easy. My tasks included helping them consolidate what they had learned at school and equipping them with “necessary stuff” before the tests (either at school or standardized tests like TOEFL Junior, KET, PET, etc.).

My own definition of “necessary stuff” is grammar, lexical resources, tips, and so on that are related to the drills for the English tests (I mean to pass with flying colors). I’m ambitious, and so are some of their parents. And also, some of them are not. They were really nice and didn’t put any pressure on my work. But is there any problem?

Yes, there is. Or I have to say that “there was”. Now, I’m confusing the present simple with the past simple. I did teach them, but maybe my impact still exists.

I remember among those kids, there was a boy (the youngest one) that was very bright. Intelligent, humorous, talkative, nice, and playful – all those adjectives that I can think about when describing this student in the past.

I’ve learned much from him and his family as well. His mom is also a university professor, so she is very serious about his learning. She has taught me a lot about a teacher’s career, and I’m always grateful for that. However, I’ve been gradually wondering: “Has my straightforward and strict comments on his carelessness partly destroyed his bright side?”

Obviously, each and every person has tons of pressure in their daily life. And those students of mine are no exception. But still, I’m really regretful. If I hadn’t been that ambitious, had that high expectation, what would it be now?

No one knows.