Does my college professor like me?

[Anonymous]

Okay, I know this is a silly question. But I’m being genuinely curious lol. After I turned 21 in 2022, my theatre professor started to talk to me with more light teasing such as mimicking me playfully when I greet him and being there for me whenever I needed him. I thought this was because I had been a part of the theatre program since I was fresh out of high school. But there were two different occasions where my professor and I with other older theatre students had gone out and he had paid for my drinks only. To which one of the older theatre students made a comment saying, “Wow! He never bought me my drink.”

And even when he was directing the spring production, it has been noticed by other students that he had seen to be more calmer and caring towards me during rehearsals even going the extra length to check in on me and my costumes when I would be in the costume shop with the costume designer.

And currently I had gotten verbally bullied by some theatre students to the point where it had me uncomfortable and I had privately opened up to him about it to which made him very pissed off as he had explained to me and proceeded to make sure that I met up with him twice in his office to discuss the manner and he had expressed it himself that he hates that I’ve been treated as such since I’ve done nothing but be a good example of what a theatre student should be.

Lastly I did overhear one of the students who had bullied me discuss with another student that the professor hasn’t responded to their email in regards about writing a recommendation letter for them and I felt kind of bad hearing that since I couldn’t help but feel like my professor maybe might be doing that because of what I had shared with him.

[JoePro_]

I would say take a step or two back. First question might be, do you want him to like you? In what way? Do you like him in some way? Is it in a professional way, a familial way, or wanting a closer relationship sort of way? And if you do want something more than just a working relationship with him, are you sure it's not the allure of dating someone because of their position of power or authority over you? Have you had bosses or other professors that you like more than the working relationship you have together? Have you ever fetishized someone with authority over you in sexual thoughts? Etc.

Then you'll want to separate those questions from the following. If he does like you, has he shown any evidence of how or why he likes you? Are you just a favorite student, or does he seem to indicate that he wants something more? Has he done anything that has indicated that he's been less than professional with you, like extra personal with you?

I feel like there's so much that could be going on with you, with him, with the environment that you're in, etc, that there's no way to really figure it all out based on your post alone.

But once you dig into those questions, ask the next set of important questions. Is he married? Is that a relationship you want to ruin? If you like him as more than a professor, would you be willing take on another professor or wait it out until you're out of his class, so not to ruin his career? Etc.

There's just so much to unpack, and I can't really say if he "likes" you based on your post alone. I hope you're able to figure things out for yourself though!

[boobliker]

Yes they all will as your his best stubent this year.

[Anonymous]

I doubt it not in that way romantic

[laly520]

no he doesn't