How can I politely tell a classmate to bring their own paper and supplies?
There’s a classmate who often asks to borrow my supplies since they don’t seem to have their own. It’s become a regular occurrence, and while I want to help, it’s starting to frustrate me, especially when they ask for paper each class. I often give them some, but then they only use a portion and want more for the next class. It would be great if they could just use what they have! I’m getting close to feeling like I need to set some boundaries. Any suggestions on how to address this gently?
It’s definitely understandable to feel frustrated when someone is continuously borrowing your supplies, especially when it seems like they’re not trying to be prepared. Here’s a gentle way you could approach the situation:
You could say something like, “Hey, I’ve noticed that you’re often asking for paper and supplies, and I completely understand it can be tough to keep everything organized. However, I really need to save my supplies for my own work. Maybe it would help if you could get your own paper or supplies for our classes? I’d love to help out, but it’s getting a bit challenging for me.”
This way, you’re expressing your feelings without sounding harsh, while also encouraging them to take responsibility for their own materials. Good luck!