In my experience, the best controllers were oftentimes the ones who quietly went about their business in the sector. I recall first coming into my facility (Minneapolis Center in Farmington, Mn) with eyes wide open, taking it all in. Manny was a loud, brash controller who seemed very confident in his ability. I assumed he was very good at the job by listening to him in the sector talking on the frequency. I would later learn that there was no correlation whatsoever between the confidence a controller exuded and their ability. There were exceptions, of course. It's very likely the woman instructor would have imparted lots of knowledge to you in a quiet way without the head-games. I used to like to put my trainees at ease by telling them that I expect they will make mistakes — it's why they're not certified yet. It gave them freedom to try new things and learn from mistakes made along the way without the paralysis that comes from trying to be perfect. It was an antidote to the idea that controllers can't afford to make mistakes; that it's a job that requires perfection. Lots of controllers liked to believe that about themselves. In actuality, controllers occasionally made judgement errors. They're human. It's how well they recognize the errors and fix them that matters most. 

Flying for pleasure is an expensive hobby. I considered getting my pilot's license decades ago but I could never justify the cost to stay proficient. I would want to stay proficient if I intended to fly and to do that it was going to add up quickly. My other hobbies cost me enough already.

Kevin g