There are moments as a teacher when I'm conscious that I'm trotting out the same exact phrase my professor used with me years ago. It's an eerie feeling, as if my old mentor is not just in the room, but in my shoes, using me as his mouthpiece.

It's like one of those dreams you have when someone is chasing you. You're running as fast as you can and someone's trotting behind you just out of range trying to grab onto you.