In short, Meg, you should not expect your teachers to look at you once and simply see, in a brief glance, how bright you are. You should not expect them to unerringly spot your talents and know where they might lead you. Some will, and you will be grateful to them for the rest of your life. But others, sadly, can't tell, or don't much care, or are caught up in their own worries and resentments. Then again, the ones who stand in awe of your gifts are not the ones from whom you will ultimately learn the most. The best teachers will occasionally, perhaps more than occasionally, make you feel a bit stupid. From Letters to a Young Mathematician by Ian Stewart pg. 17