You're always refreshing to speak to because you're honest and you don't hold back, but for some students this can sometimes seem intimidating. They're in the lab asking for assistance and while some of them may not always be self-aware of their cognitive levels, it is part of our jobs to make sure that they feel empowered. A positive environment can make all the difference in helping a student feel like they can succeed versus giving up before the end of the semester, so it's important to treat everyone with a dignity that doesn't make assumptions about a minimum level of technical or non-technical knowhow. While I may recognize that you don't mean something negatively, sometimes students may misinterpret your words or tone. Looking forward, let's make a point to think about avoid using words that assume the simplicity of a task and avoiding playful banter with students who seem particularly stressed. (Example: "I told you it wasn't hard." could be "See? You can do it, it just takes a little practice." or "You're going to forget this if you don't write it down." could be "Note-taking is a good way to learn new concepts, so we can make sure you always have this information even after you leave the lab today.") Let's make our goal for the upcoming semester to encourage students to grow with positivity.