Dear Tim,
I finally asked this girl I like on a date. I want her to know that I am interested in her but I don’t want to come on too strong and obnoxious. What would be good for a first date that you don’t want to screw up?
— “NERVOUS”
Dear “TYPICAL,”
This is pretty standard. In fact, I am surprised you are the first person to ask me a question about first dates. Anyway, here’s what I would do. I think being thoughtful is a lot more important than being yourself on a first date. Yeah… Yeah… being yourself is important, but showing them you care about them is more important as a first impression. To me, it would be a great idea to have some friends over to your place, cook a really good meal and make a few adult beverages after dinner. However, there isn’t anything too thoughtful about having some friends over. Here’s where the good part comes in. Try to find out what she likes to eat. Find out what she likes to drink. Find out what kind of music she likes. No one in the room will know anything different. But, she will recognize the effort you made to make her night special. This isn’t weird. It isn’t psycho. It’s polite. However, if you decide to take her out to eat, then here are some tips to make a more suave impression. ALWAYS order for the woman. Before the waiter comes back to the table, ask what she is going to have. Then tell the waiter what she is going to have, followed by your order. DO NOT show her the bill. You should not show her what you are tipping. You should not make scene if a waiter is slow or makes a mistake. Anyway, that’s another column entirely. If you decide to go with my first idea, make sure you have some plans for after dinner and drinks. If you decide to go out with your friends afterwards, do not get drunk. My suggestion is to save some cocktails for after and drink them together without your friends. This is a good first date and it gives you a chance to be yourself while you are being thoughtful.
Dear Tim,
I cannot decide on a major. I officially have changed it six times since I have been here at LSU. I am only a sophomore. I am thinking of changing it again. My parents are getting pissed and my TOPS scholarship runs out in three years. Help me out. — “MAJOR TROUBLE”
Dear “MAJOR TROUBLE,”
I hear you loud and clear. Most people cannot decide on a major until their second year anyway. And even more people graduate with a degree they really didn’t want. That’s where I fall in. Anyway, you need to really think about what you really want to do with your life. Here’s a tip. Don’t look at the name of your major, look at the classes you have to take. Here’s an example. It sounds really good to have an International Trade and Finance degree with a Comparative Statistics minor. But, if you are like me, you would rather cut off your face than take those classes. I would look through the course catalog and the find the classes that interest you most. Also, look for things that you can do outside of class. If you are into architecture, find a firm to volunteer for. If you are into print journalism, find an outlet for your work. It’s more important to find a major that is going to keep you motivated. For many employers, it is more important to have a self-motivated person with a degree on their wall than it is to have a person that had the exact major they were looking for.
Get your degree. But, it is more important to find something you can be passionate about and make it your life.