"If it's tuesday, I must be the student": lessons learned from the other side of the classroom

After teaching veterinary students for over 10 years, the author returned to graduate school as a part-time doctoral student in educational administration and policy studies. Sitting in the student's chair brought back an acute awareness of the submissive position of the student, the daunting prospects of navigating a university system, and the challenges of managing the workload of a degree program. The experience also provided a fresh perspective on instruction, including course delivery, effective use of class time, and the potential impact of the language one uses with students. These insights on teaching and learning and on the student's viewpoint may help educators become more empathetic and effective instructors and mentors of veterinary students.