If you don’t know them:

So there’s a girl or guy in your class you think is good looking. You get excited to go to class just because you get to see them, but you’re too shy to make the first move.

The first thing you need to do is introduce yourself. Find an excuse to talk to them. Being in the same class is perfect because you can ask them about an assignment or upcoming test. Instead of walking away after this, keep this conversation going. You can make a joke about the professor or comment on how easy or hard the class is. Try to get the person to laugh because a sense of humor is a huge thing people look for in a girlfriend or boyfriend.

Then, introduce yourself. Ask them their name, what their major is and tell them a little about yourself. Since it’s already Valentine’s Day it would be a little fast to ask them out on full blown date for the night, but ask them to join you for coffee so you can both get a head start on an assignment or project. It may not be a Valentine’s Day date, but it’s a start.

If you are friends and want to take it to the next level:

If you have a friend that you like more than just a friend, then Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to make your move.

You already know the person so you have an advantage, and asking them on a date for the night wouldn’t be considered too forward. Ask your friend out for lunch at one of the dining commons or for coffee. Make sure it’s just the two of you so you don’t have to fight for their attention when you are talking.

While you’re at lunch, start to drop hints that you are interested in them. Tell them they look good today and compliment the traits you like most about them. If you make the other person feel good about him or herself and feel special, they will start to pick up on your attraction to them. Also, you want to start moving out of the friend zone, so dropping hints about how you are attracted to them will help a lot. Right before you finish lunch is the big moment.

Be honest with your friend about how you feel. Keep it light, however, and if your friend respectively declines your date invitation you don’t want it to ruin your friendship. If you confess your love for them immediately, it might scare them off for good.

Say something like, “I have so much fun when we hang out. You’re funny, smart, and beautiful/handsome, and I was wondering if you wanted to be my date tonight and go out to the movies or dinner.” Most likely your friend will say “yes.”

Many people who are friends first end up dating. It is better this way because you already know you really like the person before you start dating. Also, it’s not just a physical attraction, since you have already spent time with them and you genuinely want to.

If you’ve been seeing someone and want to ask them out in a creative way:

When most people ask their dates out for Valentine’s Day, they buy them flowers or simply ask in person. If you really want to impress the person you are with, find a creative and new way to ask your date out.

Buy a bag of Hershey Kisses. Make a trail from their room to a common room,kitchen, or a table in another room. Lead the trail of Hershey Kisses to a table and place the Kisses in the shape of a heart. Inside the heart put something that indicates the type of restaurant you will be taking them to. If it’s sushi, place two chopsticks with a card that says, “9:00 p.m. sushi date?” in the center of the heart. If it’s an Italian restaurant or Antonio’s Pizza, get a business card from the place and put that in the center with a note on the back stating the time you want to go.

Another thing you can do is make a scavenger hunt. Ask one of the person’s roommates to let you into their room or house so you can set up the scavenger hunt. On small pieces of paper write a two-line rhyme, for instance, “Your smile I love and this is true, look by your computer to find the next clue.” Make about five or six of these, which lead to your final note. For the last note, ask them on a date.

You can write something like, “Whenever I’m around you everything feels right, please be my Valentine date tonight.” Attach the note to a box of chocolates and write a time and place for your date at the bottom of the note. You know the personality of the person your with so write the clues accordingly. If they like cheesy stuff, then make the clues cheesy, and if they have a sense of humor try to write clues that will make them laugh. By doing this, it shows you’ve taken time to do something unique, and it lets them know how special they are.

Even though it’s the last minute and you may not have a date yet, don’t give up. Get out there and ask someone out. Whether it’s for coffee or dinner, Valentine’s Day is a great time to finally introduce yourself to your crush in class, tell your friend you like them as more than just friends or show the one you are with how special they are.

Kaitlyn Bigica can be reached at [email protected].