It can be nerve-wracking to approach someone and make the first move. It's great that you want to express your interest in this guy, and it's also totally understandable that the prospect of doing this feels a little uncomfortable. There is no one right way to do this, but all good ways involve being open and direct. Maybe not as direct as shoving a piece of paper at him, but you could say, "Here's my phone number. Give me a call if you want to catch a movie sometime." The other key is picking a good time and place. Don't do it in between classes if there is only one minute left. Don't do it in front of all his friends, because guys are easily embarrassed (surprisingly, often more so than we girls), and he may not handle it well. If you find yourself in a small group, or waiting on line at lunch or immediately after a class is over, you could casually ask if he'd like to get together sometime.

Measure your success by how you approach this guy, not by his reaction. Most guys are relieved when the girl expresses her interest first; no one wants to set themselves up for rejection, and often they find it attractive when a girl has enough confidence in herself to make the first move. However, he may not be receptive to dating you. The signals he is sending that he likes you may be his way of being friendly; some guys don't know how to be "just friends" with a girl, so they flirt with everyone. But if you are feeling optimistic, go for it! Besides, you have nothing to lose if he doesn't call, and everything to gain from taking the first step. Most of all, you'll feel so proud of yourself for doing it!

— Kate Forest, MSW