Originally Posted by
The Don
Don't do this. I know Scott loves being blunt but I don't think that's the best way to solve this. Directly challenging them on it is only going to result in conflict, and if this persons as socially awkward as they sound you never know how they'll react. Also if you do directly challenge them on it it's going to destroy what little self esteem they have (which i'm guessing you don't want to do otherwise you would've told them to **** off already). The problem you're in is you're enabling her behaviour. You may be a nice person but that doesn't mean you have to be a doormat. The copying clothes/haircuts thing is annoying, but it's not the end of the world. Copying your work however is too much, I don't understand how they were able to copy it word for word unless they clearly copied it in front of you (at which point you should've spoke up), or you leant it to her overnight or something. Either way, don't lend people your work for extended periods of time in the future, that won't fly at higher education as enabling is almost as bad as copying.
Either way, it depends how you want this 'friendship' to progress. From your initial post it seems like you see her as more of a burden than a friend? If this is the case then just distance yourself from her until she's out of your life. If you do want to continue being friends with her don't enable her behaviour. You don't have to be horrible, just assertive. Kyle's advice seems pretty good, trying to build up her confidence so she has her own personality will benefit her massively in the long term. In my opinion though it seems more hassle than it's worth, I would distance myself from them because at the end of the day you're not a life coach and it shouldn't be your job to do all that. Obviously if they're a good friend that's a different case, but from your initial post it didn't seem like they were your best friend or anything.
