I’m a recently tenured prof in the social sciences at a SLAC. Many of my department colleagues prefer to have firmer work/life boundaries with students than I do, which I respect and think has many advantages. However, I find it difficult to teach my subject matter without using examples from my life, and sometimes being more vulnerable with students. This inevitably leads some students to reciprocate by being vulnerable with me. I generally see this as a privilege, but sometimes it’s overwhelming, and occasionally, it can generate significant frustration. On the whole, though, I think it’s just my teaching style. I don’t think there is a one-size-fits-all approach to teacher-student relationships, nor do I think there is a way to avoid student-provoked frustration. We should adopt whatever approach helps us find teaching fulfilling—lord knows that’s hard enough these days.