Crushes have existed since the dawn of time (I would assume), and they can take various forms. Think of all of the types of crushes you’ve had throughout the course of your life: that one kid that you liked in kindergarten because they ran really fast, your best friend’s older sibling or someone from summer camp — the options are endless, yet all incredibly hyper-specific.
Now that we are older, perhaps these archetypes do not resonate with us as readily as they did in our wild youths (pardon my melodramaticism). However, a type of crush that appears more frequently within the world of college is the “class crush.” In the simplest of terms, the classroom crush is that one person you’re excited to see when you walk into your 8 a.m. — they might even get you out of bed in the morning.
Yes, class crushes were obviously a thing in elementary/middle/high school, but college is really where we are able to see the phenomena flourish. On a college campus where one is able to see a new face every day, the mysticism and frequency behind these crushes are elevated and, one could argue, more thrilling.
Unfortunately, I have never had the experience of having a “class crush,” and I’m currently a senior in my final semester, so I’m not sure that it will happen for me. The closest I’ve ever gotten is having a class with a former situationship, a true character-building experience. This being said, I decided to ask a few Vanderbilt students about whether or not they’ve had class crushes, and how it’s either influenced their college careers or affected how they feel about their studies and attending class in general.
Some people, such as junior Claudia Purdon and sophomore Elina Patel, see their class crushes as motivation to even show up in the first place.
“I love a good class crush,” Purdon said. “They actually get me excited to go to class.”
“[A class crush] makes me feel excited to go to class even if it’s a class I’d normally dread. It makes the class more entertaining and it goes by a lot faster,” Patel said.
Aside from general academic motivation, others see their class crushes as a reason to not just throw on a pair of sweats in the morning.
“[My classes crushes] don’t motivate me to go, but they motivate me to put slightly more effort into what I look like if I do go,” senior Jill Dugan said.
Overall, when people were asked whether or not they found their class crushes approachable, the bag of responses was a bit mixed.
“I think they motivate you similarly to how gym crushes motivate you…You don’t always want to talk to them but their presence makes you do better,” Dugan said.
“I LOVE a class crush,” senior Sam Barlet said. “But they will make me act like a fool and embarrass myself if I do talk to them.”
It would appear, perhaps, that the class crush can serve as motivation in a plethora of ways or simply as a subject of ideation — it means something a little different to everyone. So, why all of the talk about class crushes at this point in time? Easy. With Valentine’s Day approaching, take the time to sit next to your class crush (if you aren’t already), or strike up a conversation. Compliment their outfit or their handwriting (without being creepy). If you’re feeling fancy, you could even bring some candy to class, which would inevitably get the conversation flowing.
The bottom line is: these semesters are fleeting, and you never know if you’ll see your beloved class crush again! Now is the time to shoot your shot. Happy Valentine’s Day, friends.
