Everyone has had a crush at least once in their lives. There are many different types of crushes, there are the commons ones: work, celebrity, gym. But I'm here to tell you about the one that I hate the most. The Campus Crush. The Campus Crush for the unfamiliar is when you have a crush on someone that is usually well-known around campus and someone that you may or may not know personally. The Campus Crush usually comes in stages and each stage is as exciting as it embarrassing. Sometimes it's not meant to be and sometimes it's best to take a page from one Stiles Stilinski and create a ten year plan, because you know they are the one.
1. When they first catch your eye
This stage occurs when you finally see this person for the first time. You've probably heard a lot about them so when you finally see them for the first time you might get a little starstruck or think "so that's who everyone is talking about." and it just makes sense.
2. When you find out that your friends had a class with them
This is when you realize that you have a potential in because your friends spent a whole semester in the room with them, so they must introduce you. Because somehow you just know that you are gonna marry this person.
3. When you find out your crush is somehow single
This occurs when you find out through some light Facebook stalking that your crush is somehow single. Because have you seen your crush? They are perfection and somehow they are single and this means that maybe, just maybe you have a chance.
4. When you finally meet them in person
This occurs when your friends ultimately give into your nagging and introduce you to your crush. But because your crush is perfection incarnate and your heart is beating out of your chest, your introduction becomes less of a "Hey how are you?" and more of a stupid smile and an awkward wave.
5. When you talk to them for the first time![]()
This stage occurs when you've finally gotten past the initial "smile and wave" act and can begin to form words when you're around them, but because you have friends that have insider information you can't actually think of anything to say because it might make your crush realize that you already know everything that Facebook can tell you.
6. When you start to see them around campus and you have to ~casual~
This stage happens when you realize that your crush is unavoidable. You start seeing them in the halls, in class, and in the dining hall. It can seem like you didn't ever see them before you had a crush on them and now the universe is rubbing them in your face.
7. When you start to doubt that they will ever like you back
8. When your friends encourage you to keep trying
This stage occurs when you've told your friends how you're feeling and they encourage you to keep trying. You're still weary but you realize that they are right, good things take time.
9. When you realize it might be a more than harmless crush
This stage occurs when you start to think about your crush, really think about them and you realize with a rush of panic that you might love them. When you realize this and the initial panic passes, you realize that it's time to actually get it together and make a move.
10. When you finally get the nerve to ask your crush out.
This stage occurs when you realize you can't exactly ignore your feelings for your crush anymore. So you put on your big girl pants and wait for the perfect moment to ask them. Hopefully the answer is yes. But if it isn't, you know that you can lick your wounds and move on. Because knowing that you took a shot is better than never even trying.
