When were you most challenged by a student?

"One of the biggest challenges I ever had in teacher involved a female student. She was blatantly disrespectful in the classroom and did not enjoy listening to authority at all. The first day of class together was one of the most difficult days of teaching. She wanted to she how far she could get with me. After class, I pulled her aside and asked the simple question, 'Are you o.k.?' The student's defenses promptly went down and she broke to me what her summer was like. From then on, we had each other's respect. You never know how far a relationship can go with a simple question of care."