Am I getting special treatment because I look young?

[ClassicDropout]

I look young. Unnaturally young. I'm 27 and people mistake me for a fresh high-school graduate all the time. At work, my coworker has been spoiling me since I started. She will bring me snacks, drinks, souvenirs from trips, lunch, etc. randomly. She walks with me pretty much everywhere I need to go in the building, and she doesn't let our manager assign me tedious or unreasonable tasks like he does with everyone else. I try to reciprocate, but she always just says not to worry about it or that I should pay it forward and not back.. I feel guilty because I'm the last one that deserves her kindness. I can't imagine why she'd treat me this way unless she thought I was a fresh graduate with no working experience... should I start subtly letting her know that I'm older? I don't want to sound like I don't appreciate what she does for me, but I also don't want her to waste her time on me.

[_Maya_]

I mean... anything is possible. Only she knows why she is doing all of this for you. All we can do is guess. My guess is that it isn't just because of your youthful looks and more so a combination of things. I am not saying that your young looks might not play a part in all of it. I would be more concerned what other coworkers think of all of what she does for you. To me I would feel very awkward because I am only guessing that coworkers might look at this special treatment and resent me. That would be my biggest problem with all of it. If she doesn't do the same to other people that means your treatment is going to be viewed as "special". I would politely decline next time she tries to give you something.

[Kelly6]

@ClassicDropout To me looks doesn't give me any special benefit.