Grieving student opens up about losing sister — and her teacher's reaction is a lesson in kindness

They say listening with empathy is an act of love, and Alyssa (@actualdavidrose) realized the profundity of the beautiful line once she lost her sister in 2020. A day after her sister died, her professor sent her an email, assuring her that she had all the time she needed for healing and that she didn't have to worry about academics. Alyssa shared the screenshot of her teacher's email on September 29, and so far, her post has garnered over 400k likes. 

Her professor said they had two sisters, and so they understand what Alyssa must be going through after losing someone so special in her life. "I don't know what to write. Take all the time you need," the teacher wrote in the email. Next, her English professor assured Alyssa that she didn't have to go through the documentation, explaining her situation, and wrote, "You don't need to promise not to take another extension. I am giving you blanket flexibility in advance." Further, Alyssa's teacher said, "You've already done good work so far, and my goal is for you to get something positive out of the class." Moreover, the empathetic teacher said that if Alyssa chose to take an extension, they would make it work without any questions asked. "Take care of yourself," they added. 

Alyssa's teacher couldn't have done anything better than just being empathetic towards her, especially during such a devastating time. This simple gesture beautifully conveyed how important it is for teachers to truly understand their students and support them during challenging times. Just like Alyssa, a survey conducted by the Pearson Foundation found that 54% of students said they have a teacher whom they can trust with all their problems. They also had 61% of participants who admitted their teachers acknowledged when they tried their best to perform well. This bonding gives students an upper edge, with their confidence boosted and a sense of support cemented in their system.

Meanwhile, Alyssa's post received an outpouring of love on Twitter, with netizens appreciating her professor for being so kind and understanding. Many also took the opportunity to share their heartfelt condolences and their personal experiences of dealing with a sibling's loss. For instance, @sarahtonin commented, "I lost my sister in January, and it has been the absolute worst thing to ever happen. I cried reading this because I wish someone would give me this kind of message. It’s been almost 10 months, and it still hurts. Please take your time." Similarly, @blktinabelcher said, "I can’t imagine the grief that comes with losing a sibling. I have a sister, and I don’t know how I would survive without her. I’m happy that this professor was so compassionate, and I hope that other professors take notes."

A user, @alyssfoxy, wrote, "I had a professor just like this last year when I went through the same loss! She let me take a month off and gave me 2 months to take the exams whenever I pleased. She also offered to talk to me out of office hours about how I feel (unrelated to school). She was a blessing!" Echoing the sentiments, @stephaniegati said, "I just know way too many profs that would reply with 'the deadline was yesterday. Complete your work in time to avoid penalties. It’s sad that we have to praise someone who has a decent heart towards humanity. I am very thankful for people like him." Another user who goes by @cleosdarling commented, "First of all, I'm so sorry. Condolences, love. Second, professors who understand life make all the difference. To this day, I still tear up recalling looking up from my lap with wet tissues in my hand and seeing that my prof was quietly CRYING as I spoke. Then he made a plan for me."

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