Use common sense and change your plans if you need to. If you planned to talk to them at recess but see them cramming for a test or having a heated discussion with a friend, postpone your chat. You don’t want to force them into a conversation when they’re busy.

It may sound silly, but using your crush’s name can induce some warm fuzzy feelings right off the bat. Saying, “Hey, Brad!” sounds much more personal than “Hey!” If you can’t make “What’s up?” flow off the tongue naturally, open with anything that feels natural to you. You can say something like, “Are you excited for class today?”, “Did you watch the new episode last night?”, or anything else that can smoothly start a conversation.

If applicable, you could also mention a recent accomplishment or noteworthy achievement of your crush. You can say anything from, “Congrats on winning that football game last Saturday! I heard you played great,” to, “I liked what you said in class today and I totally agreed. ”

If you can’t think of common ground, create some! If you don’t have any of the same classes or social circles, find something to connect over. If you know he absolutely loves a certain genre of music, tell him you started listening to it and want some recommendations. If you know he is passionate about a cause, ask him how you can learn more and get involved. It doesn’t matter if you are total opposites– find something that you can bring up to relate to him and bond over something. [3] X Research source Not only will you show your crush that you’ve taken note of what he is interested in, you can also truly learn something new about both him and about whatever subject matter you discuss.

If you’re bold, you can ask for their phone number, social media info, or email address. Then, you can continue chatting outside of school.

No matter how eager you are to talk to them more and spend time with them, it is best to let things evolve naturally. Don’t hit them up for their phone number three minutes after meeting them.

Wearing a lucky shirt, standing up straight, and visualizing a great conversation in your head are all additional ways to give yourself that boost of confidence you need. If doesn’t matter what you do to feel good, just do it!

For all you know, they’ve been admiring you from afar this whole time. You owe it to both of you to try. [5] X Research source

When you speak to your crush, make sure that you’re facing them, speak loud enough to be understood, and use a friendly tone. You can also lean towards them to better hear what they’re saying. If you look terrified, they’ll most likely feel a bit awkward. Camouflage your nervousness and summon up all of your confidence.

Also, try to calm yourself down right before you talk to your crush. Whether you listen to some calming music, go on a walk, have a quick chat with a good friend, or watch a funny video, calming yourself down will help you get rid of the jitters that can come with talking to your crush.