In this article, the author talks about teachers communicating with students to show willingness to listen and care. In cases of real emotional distress, he refers students to the proper campus counseling services, but after Hurricane Katrina, it broke the barriers of his disengagement from students' personal problem. He learned that in many situations, sympathy was a practical response and whenever he is confronted by students' personal problems in the aftermath of Katrina, he felt that practicality was what they wanted and deserved.