Childhood
Who was your favorite teacher growing up, and why did they stand out?
Why this question matters
The teacher question almost always produces a story about being noticed. A parent's favorite teacher is rarely the one who taught them the most material — it's the one who took them seriously when nobody else did, or who let them be the version of themselves they couldn't be at home. The answer tells you something about what they needed when they were young, and whether they ever got it.
If they pause, try this
Ask what that teacher taught them that they still carry today.
What people often remember when asked this
- 01
Often you'll get a name, a subject, and one specific moment — "Mrs. Hennessy, fifth grade, English. She told me I should be a writer." Ask what happened to that thread. Did they ever write? Do they wish they had?
- 02
Sometimes the favorite teacher is the one who was hard on them in a way that mattered. Listen for the words "she made me" or "he wouldn't let me" — those phrases usually mean the teacher saw something the parent didn't yet see in themselves.
- 03
If your parent says they never had one, ask about a teacher they didn't like — sometimes that opens it up faster than the positive version.
A small tip for the conversation
After they answer, ask: "Did they know how much they mattered to you?" That follow-up almost always pulls out a more honest second answer than the first one was.
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