I have thought long and hard on how to approach this article all week. It is a difficult topic for me because I'm new to this subject. Boys, first dates, dating, oh my! In high school, I was the girl with her nose in a book 90 percent of the time. I honestly wasn't interested in boys. I didn't want to date. I wanted to focus on getting through high school by acing my classes, which led to me not scoring a date to the prom. I didn't even go to prom, something I regret that now because I would of probably enjoyed it if I had gone.

I'm writing this because I know there are girls out there who, like me, are focused on school, aren't interested in dating, or both. There are girls out there who are scared that they will be lonely forever because they didn't start dating in high school. I'm here to tell you that you won't.

I thought that I would be waiting a long time before a guy would show any interest. I have a lot of self confidence and self doubt issues. I have been working on myself and my issues for a long time because I do want to start dating. Sooner or later, I want it to happen; I believe there is someone for everybody.

2 weeks ago, I was asked out by a guy who I work with. I didn't know what to think since this was a first for me. I had never been asked out or asked for my number. I said yes because I kind of liked him already. I just never thought about it because my past experiences with liking a guy never went the way I wanted them to. He never liked me back. It is definitely different, having someone actually like me back.

We finally went out for coffee this week. Technically our first date was at Starbucks in Ingles. It was sweet. He paid for our coffee, pulled out my chair like a gentlemen, and we talked. I had fun; he did too (or so he said, haha). Then, he took me home. He opened the car door for me and we hugged goodbye.

I have been so nervous to the point of puking over the first date. I have been racking my brain over everything because I am so scared I'm going to screw it up. This is what I was told, something I'm sure will help any girls out there who are going through something similar: be yourself. Being yourself is the most important thing. If you're being you, then he can be himself. That is when the fun can begin.

Don't overthink things. I am a person who over thinks, I admit it. I probably read into things way more than I should. I literally have to take a deep breath and clear my brain of all thoughts before talking to this guy so that I don't say something weird, since my brain is scrambling. If you are like me, I know you can't shut it off, but you clear the clutter in your head by taking a few minutes to read, write, draw, listen to music, or breathe.

Dating is already complicated. We don't need to make it even more complicated by adding our own craziness to it. First dates are nerve racking, but you will survive with minimal damage at most. Boys are just a nervous as you are, I promise.

What else do you think is important to remember? Did this help? I hope it did. I know it helped me all week. I want to say thank you to everyone who gave me advice and who looked after me, you know who you are!