I’ve just yesterday had an experience which I feel pretty good about.
I just sent a student for his private pilot checkride, and he passed
on the first try.  That may not sound like a big deal, but to me it
is.  I’ve been an instructor part-time, off and on for 22+ years, and
this is the first time I’ve ever had a student where I was the only
instructor all the way from the beginning to the checkride.  It took
44 or so hours, with exactly 20 hrs dual (this is due to the fact that
this 17 year old kid is a super pilot, not my skills).  It is also the
very first time in all those years that I’ve actually recommended a
student for the checkride.  I finally feel like a real instructor!!

–
Ed Winchester    CFI
edwin@vl_wssf_mail.chinalake.navy.mil
ed…@ridgecrest.ca.us
http://www1.ridgecrest.ca.us/~edwin