My teacher is way too friendly.
I didn’t have much of a relationship with my male arts teacher until one day after finals. I was walking to the canteen when he called out to me, and we ended up chatting for a bit. After that, every time I walked by, he would greet me as if we were close friends. I didn’t mind at first, but it started to feel a bit much since I kept running into him in the hallways. It got awkward, so I tried to ignore him, but he never seemed to get the hint. He would say things like, “Hey! Are you pretending you didn’t see me?” in a playful tone.
This year, he’s my art teacher again, and I’m the only one who consistently pays attention in class. As a result, he asked me to be his class assistant, which I agreed to. Whenever I went to his office to submit our art projects, he would insist I stay and engage in awkward conversations. I often had to end them by saying I needed to go to lunch.
One time during lunch, he saw 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 got me the food, I wanted to join my friends, but he joked, “Wow, I treat you to something and you’re leaving me?” I smiled and told him I really wanted to sit with my friends, and he responded with, “Okay, fine.”
I’m not saying he’s creepy; it’s just that I’m not interested in being friends with him.
It sounds like you’re in a bit of an awkward situation. It’s great that your teacher is friendly and approachable, but it’s completely understandable if you’re not comfortable developing a friendship beyond a student-teacher relationship. It’s important to create boundaries that make you feel comfortable.
You might try having a gentle but clear conversation with him about needing some space or focusing on your studies. You could say something like, “I appreciate your friendliness, but I really just want to keep things professional and focus on my art.” Supporting that with a smile can help keep the atmosphere light while still getting your point across.
Remember, it’s okay to prioritize your comfort and maintain the boundaries you want!