ADVICE WITH HILARY: Go at your own pace, Consider social networking when getting to know classmates
Welcome to the first advice column!
Submit questions to me via e-mail at farre1hl@cmich.edu. You also may submit anonymously on my Formspring account, at formspring.me/HilaryFarrell.
All questions received anonymously or with a real name receive a code name.
Dear Hilary,
How far is it okay to go on the first date?
-Dating
Dear Dating,
Deciding how far to go on a date is a very personal decision, and one you should ultimately decide on your own.
The generic rule, as I was told, is to wait three dates before becoming physical. Elliot Reid on “Scrubs” puts the number at four.
With that, a first date is about getting to know a person and not getting to know their bedroom.
If you decide to become physical too fast, you may miss out on getting to know this person on other levels.
Assuming the person you are seeing is not a total jerk, they will enjoy your company and accept how fast (or slow) the physical aspects of a relationship unfold.
Dear Hilary,
I sit next to a really cute girl in class. She is funny and nice, and we have a lot in common. How do I make a move? Can I make a move?
-Shy Guy
Dear Shy Guy:
Of course you can make a move!
Try not to laugh, but have you looked her up on Facebook or another social networking Web site? If not, this is a great first step.
Facebook is a great way to interact with people, especially in your case. You can speak to your crush without the structure of class.
Try asking her to do something without a lot of pressure. Invite her to a party or get-together.
Ask her if she would like to grab some coffee, or if she wants to go over class notes before an exam.
Chances are, if you are already speaking a lot in class, she may be interested.
At the very least, you will have a fun coffee date and a new study friend.
Dear Hilary,
What are tips on writing a professional e-mail?
-Digitally Lost
Dear Digitally Lost;
Start with the subject line. It should clearly define what your e-mail will be about.
When writing the greeting, address it to either the person’s full name, or their gender or title followed by last name (i.e., Mr. Smith, Professor Smith).
Stay away from greetings you would use in a personal e-mail, such as “Hi!” or “How’s it going?”
Write the body of the e-mail as clearly as you can, and picture yourself speaking to a superior or supervisor. In other words, keep the e-mail brief and polite.
Finish your e-mail with an appropriate goodbye, such as “sincerely.”
At the bottom of the e-mail, attach appropriate contact information, such as a phone number or business title.
This information is referred to as a “signature” or “signature block,” and is offered in many e-mail services.
Finally, before sending, proofread your e-mail for grammatical and spelling errors.
