A follow up from my older asklemmy post, saying goodbye to a teacher who helped me a lot through my stuff, was thinking maybe chocolate, but one of the dudes said that it’s not a very good idea, I was thinking maybe a perfume/cologne? What do you guys suggest? She is in probably in her early 20s if it helps, and I am in senior high, damn this is getting weirder and weirder, I just want to run away lol

  • WeirdGoesPro@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    6 months ago

    Lmao at the perfume and chocolates. You somehow beelined to the most Valentines related gifts possible.

    The suggestion for a letter or card saying how much they helped you is the best idea. If you don’t feel up to writing, then think about a professional gift, like a fancy pen or something to sit on their desk. Don’t spend a lot of money, that makes it weird. Less than $30.

    I’m so glad we had this talk at this stage of your life before you gave your first boss a fine bottle of perfume and then had a bewildering conversation with HR, lol.

  • BrerChicken @lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    As a teacher, I treasure all of the heart-felt notes and letters students have left me over the years. If you want to give something that shows them how important they are to you, write them a letter.

    • stoicmaverick@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      SOURCE!

      Edit: I guess I should clarify. I’m saying that this is the ultimate source as an answer to this question. I’m not ordering this person to cite a source. Sorry for the interruption.

  • actionjbone@sh.itjust.works
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    6 months ago

    A greeting card with a note about how she helped you.

    Material gifts will get used up and thrown out over time. But she’ll collect notes and letters from her students over the years, and they will help remind her why she’s teaching.

    • Lem Jukes@lemm.ee
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      6 months ago

      This, and if you really really wanna put a monetary gift in there, get them a gift card for coffee(go local fuck Starbucks) or honestly somewhere like target that sells school supplies. It’s a bit orphan crushing machine but they may really appreciate the extra cash for supplies.

    • z00s@lemmy.world
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      6 months ago

      This. I’m a teacher, and I have about a thousand gift mugs stuck in a closet, but I will hang on to that raggedy half torn post it note that says, “Thank you Mr. [Name] for helping me :)” literally until the day I die.

      In my desk, I have a special folder full of notes from students that I look at when I have a bad day.

      We don’t do it for the money, we do it to help you have a better life. So when students tell us we helped, the feeling is incredible.

      If you want to make sure it doesn’t get mistaken for romantic feelings, just think, “Would I feel weird saying this to my Aunt/Uncle?” while writing it.

      Some potential sentence starters:

      What I appreciated most about being in your class was…

      One time you really helped me was when…

      Something you really helped me understand was…

      The one thing you should never stop doing in class is…

      Whatever you write, your teacher will love it :)

  • Bwaz@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Gift certificate. That’s something that can NEVER be mistaken for romance.

  • Donebrach@lemmy.world
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    6 months ago

    Unless you’re living in a horny anime I don’t think you have much to worry about with what they think. However, don’t give your teacher perfume—that’s insane and inappropriate for anyone outside of a romantic partner / close friend.

    Write them a thank-you note and get them a Starbucks gift card.

  • BandDad@lemm.ee
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    6 months ago

    As a teacher, just a letter or card saying how they impacted you is enough.

  • livus@kbin.social
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    6 months ago

    @fastandcurious don’t give anyone perfume/cologne unless you know them well enough to know what they wear.

    • A card that has something meaningful about their teaching written in it.

    • Since she’s early career, give written feedback to the school about what a great teacher she is.

  • Em Adespoton@lemmy.ca
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    6 months ago

    One thing I haven’t seen yet: if you can, loop your parent(s) in on this. They know the situation better than the Internet does, and if someone tries to turn the situation into something weird, they should have your back. And they’ve got some life experience to help you with your note.

  • Azzu@lemm.ee
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    6 months ago

    I don’t think you have to worry too much. A classic gift of a vibrator should probably get your point across and not get misinterpreted.

    (Sorry, I had to, I know I’m dumb)

  • morgunkorn@discuss.tchncs.de
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    6 months ago

    A fountain pen or a nice moleskin notebook with a note saying how her lessons will help you in your future life.

    I think a perfume is too personal and might come out as a romantic gesture (and difficult to choose if you don’t know what she likes anyway).

      • Akuchimoya@startrek.website
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        6 months ago

        As a fountain pen user, I would suggest against that unless you know it suits her personality. Fountains pens require maintenance, and certainly it’s easy maintenance, but it’s definitely more work than a ballpoint. They are a hobby, and if it’s is not her thing, she’ll never use it.

        I would instead recommend a nice ballpoint pen set where the ink can be replaced when empty. Something she can use without having to think about or maintaining it.

      • BigDanishGuy@sh.itjust.works
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        6 months ago

        Speaking as a teacher here: do not buy any teacher anything, as in NOTHING.

        I would be super weirded out if a student gave me something.

        We had a student of more years than most, present the teacher’s lounge with a chocolate basket once, and everyone thought it was strange. So presenting a teacher with a personal gift would be even stranger.

        But if you insist on getting her a gift, perfume would be up there with lingerie and jewelry … WTF dude?

        what should you do? how about you decide what it is that you want to say. Like “you did so and so, that meant a lot for me because of so and so”.

        • Figure out what to say
        • make sure you don’t spend more than 30 or 45 seconds to say it.
        • fastandcurious@lemmy.worldOP
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          6 months ago

          Idk but judging from the username, maybe this kind of culture is there in nordic countries? Idk but here students give gifts all the time on teachers day, I just don’t know what is in those boxes lol, as I never attend these kind of events, and idk if ppl give them outside of these events

      • WeirdGoesPro@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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        6 months ago

        Coffee and tea are so much more normal than perfume or chocolate that I can’t even. I’ve gotten coffee from a coworker before, and appreciated it. I could imagine giving tea to one if I knew they liked that. It’s safe, professional, and a crowd pleaser.

        I wouldn’t even hazard a gift of perfume to my wife without some careful research first—too many ways it can be construed as “you smell” unless there is some sort of precedent such as knowing what she already wears.

        This post has been gold. Thanks for sharing your struggles with us.