Setting Boundaries with Younger Peers
I'm a nontraditional student who dropped out of college due to an unplanned pregnancy. This fall I determined I was in a place where I could balance parenting, working, and school. I decided to take the in-person community college route.
I'm a generally friendly person, if someone sits next to me I will ask them their name, their major etc. Just like I did 15 years ago I show up to class every day, take notes, ask questions. And every term in every class I seem to pick up stray students who don't show up to class, don't take notes, and generally just don't pay attention while scrolling on their computer. They'll ask me for notes, they'll ask what homework is due, they'll sometimes even ask me to help with assignments. For a while I will answer but eventually I'll start putting on my "mom hat", talking about time management, the importance of showing up to class, and going over the consequences of not performing in school.
Is it rude to start pointing them to campus resources such as the writing center, tutoring center, academic advising? Even just telling them it's on Canvas or in the syllabus? Most of my professors will put in the syllabus to reach out to another student if they miss a class but at some point I feel like these students are depending on me and other students for success because they are late or missing most class meetings.
This isn't a large issue but I'm already parenting my own teenager about the importance of school and having a spare 2 or 3 is starting to affect my college experience. I've even considered moving online even though I know I can concentrate better in-person.
How do I communicate with these younger adults that while I am happy to allow them to take pictures of my notes, I am not a tutor or personal assistant and they are responsible for their own academic success and time management without being rude?
Posted Apr 3, 2026, 4:49 PM UTC