Is he looking my way? Why is she staring? Do I have something on my face besides the standard eyes, lips, nose and brows? Though these phrases may sound like the thoughts of a girl still in high school, let’s be real right now and discuss classroom crushes. At some point in your university career there’s just going to be that person you see every day in Chemistry class that makes your heart beat just a little bit faster.
- Analyze his/her seating choice in class: Believe it or not, paying attention to where he /she sits (whether it is next to you, in front of the professor or at the back of the class) most likely says something about their personality. People who want to engage with their professors or who cannot see well regularly occupy the first few rows in a lecture hall. So, if glasses, hipster or otherwise scream, “cutie alert!” to you, take a seat up at the front. If he/she is always late to class, look to his behaviour as an indicator of how he’ll/she’ll appear on date night. Do you really want to be going into the movie theater just as the credits start to roll?
- If she/he has passed your standards of physical appearance, which really is the first and easiest way to judge someone in classes of two hundred people or more, try to determine his/her personality. After taking into account seating position as detailed above, pay some attention to him/her during class (but do not neglect your own notetaking!). See if they’re engaged in the lesson, or sleeping like a log. However, since many students work and attend school fulltime, do not immediately dismiss them as a slacker for catching up on some Zzz’s.
- If he/she’s the type that asks questions or appears to enjoy debating his/her points tap him on the shoulder after class and comment upon his/her participation. Put forward some of your own ideas too, if possible. Continue along this vein until you feel comfortable enough to ask him/her to study together over a coffee.
Note: If he/she suggests hanging out or studying as a group, do not be discouraged, they might be just nervous as you to be alone for the first hang-out sesh.
- If you’ve taken the study buddy route, since you’re guaranteed to see quite a bit of each other, do not overwhelm yourself or him/her. Be conscious that your schedule does not begin to revolve around seeing him/her – still make time to hang out with your friends and complete your assignments. Once you feel that you’ve established a rapport together, casually suggest meeting for dinner before or after studying. Transition a small amount of your academic time as a duo into hanging out and getting to know each other more.
By now a few weeks should have passed and you’ll know how comfortable you are with him/her so if you still feel a spark (he/she may have just turned out to be a great friend) ask him/her out on some kind of date. Just go for it, smile and force the words out. You’ll thank yourself for taking the initiative later.
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Pic source: http://indiaideal.blogspot.ca/2011/03/classroom-love.html