A boy in my class teased me for having a crush on one of his friends

Ugh, that's literally the worst. Getting teased for liking someone is so annoying, and it makes you just want to crawl under a rock and never come out. But it's super normal to have crushes and feel all kinds of feelings as you get older, and there's nothing wrong with that!

When your body starts changing and you go through puberty, your hormones are doing all sorts of things. Sometimes that means you start noticing people differently or feeling those fluttery crush feelings, and that's a totally natural part of growing up. It's like your brain and body are getting used to new things, and sometimes that can feel a little confusing or intense.

It's totally okay to like someone. It’s also okay to keep those feelings to yourself if you want to, or to share them with a trusted friend. What's not okay is someone teasing you about it. Usually, when someone teases, it says more about them than about you. They might be trying to get attention, or they don't know how to deal with their own feelings, so they make fun of yours. You can just try to ignore them, or sometimes a really calm "That's not cool" or "Why are you making this a big deal?" can surprise them into stopping. But if it keeps happening, or you feel really upset, definitely talk to a grown-up you trust, like a parent, teacher, or counselor. They can help you figure out how to handle it so you feel safe and comfortable at school.

Crushes are just a part of life and growing up. It might feel super embarrassing right now, but it will pass, and you'll probably have more crushes in the future. Just remember there’s nothing wrong with you for having feelings!