My Teacher is a Bit Too Friendly
I’ve never really had much of a connection with my male arts teacher until one day, right after finals. As I was heading to the canteen, he noticed me, stopped to say hello, and we had a brief conversation. Ever since then, he’s greeted me like we’re old friends whenever we pass each other in the hallways. While I don’t mind it at first, it’s started to feel a bit overwhelming. I keep running into him, which is getting awkward, so I’ve tried pretending I didn’t see him, but he just keeps jokingly saying, “Hii ahaha! Are you trying to act like you didn’t see me?”
This year, I ended up in his class again, and since I’m usually the only one paying attention, he asked me to be his class assistant, which I agreed to. When I go to his office to submit our art projects, he tends to initiate these long, awkward conversations, and I often have to cut them short, saying I need to head to lunch.
One time during lunch, he spotted me in the canteen and offered to buy me something. I politely tried to decline, but he kept insisting, so I eventually agreed. After he bought the food, I wanted to join my friends, but he joked, “Wah, I treat you to something and you leave me?” I smiled and told him I really wanted to sit with my friends, to which he responded with a playful “fine, fine.”
I’m not saying he means any harm; I just don’t feel comfortable developing a friendship with him.
It sounds like you’re in a bit of an uncomfortable situation. It’s great that your teacher is friendly and supportive, but I can understand why his behavior might feel overwhelming, especially if you’re not looking for that type of relationship. Here are a few suggestions for how you might navigate this:
Set Boundaries: It’s perfectly okay to maintain a professional boundary. You can politely but firmly let him know that you appreciate his friendliness, but you prefer to stick to a more teacher-student relationship.
Keep Conversations Brief: When he tries to engage in longer conversations, you could try to steer them in a way that allows you to keep things brief. Something like, “Thanks for the chat, but I’ve got to get going,” can help signal your intention without being rude.
Group Settings: If possible, try to spend time with your friends or peers in class or during lunch. This could naturally limit one-on-one interactions with him and help establish more boundaries.
Be Honest: If you feel comfortable, consider having a straightforward conversation where you express that you prefer to keep your relationship professional. Most teachers will understand and respect your wishes.
Ultimately, it’s important to prioritize what makes you feel comfortable. Remember, it’s entirely okay to want a more traditional student-teacher dynamic!