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Dealing with Authority Figures 219
If he keeps up the rough behavior, it may help to tell your girlfriend how you feel when
her dad acts the way he does. She might tell him to treat you like a guest, not a competitor.
I hope this helps!
In friendship,
Terra
I’m so afraid of teachers that
I say yes to everything
Hey Terra,
Is it possible to be “too” cooperative when it comes to my teachers? My gym teacher always
asks me to stay after class and put away the softball equipment, and I always say yes even
though it usually makes me have to rush to my next class. I think it would be more fair if she
asked other girls to help sometimes. And my English teacher asked me if I’d baby-sit for her
daughter on a Saturday afternoon, which I did, but the little girl was really bratty and I didn’t
want to sit for her anymore. But then, when my teacher asked me again, I said, “Yes, I’d love
to.” I guess I want people to like me, but I’m just wondering if I even know how to say “No
thank you” to people in positions of authority.
Meek
Dear Meek,
It sounds like you may have trouble saying no because you want everyone’s approval. People
who always do what’s expected of them can find themselves feeling very confined, and this
often leads to frustration. It’s best to seek a balance between doing what others want and
doing what youwant to do.
If you don’t like being late for class, be honest with your gym teacher the next time she
asks you to put away the softball equipment. You could say, “I’d like to help, but when I do
it alone, I’m sometimes late for my next class. Could you ask someone else to give me a hand,
so it will go faster?” Your teacher will probably apologize for assuming that you’re always
available to help her!