The other day, I was in the campus library with some friends during our lunch break.

I saw a beautiful girl sitting alone at a desk by the window. Tall, skinny, blonde, with a cute face - my ideal physical type.

Even after doing so many cold approaches, I still get approach anxiety.

Suddenly I noticed that this girl was packing up her laptop and about to head out of the library. I had one chance. I went up to her and opened her nervously because there were so many other people around who could see me. My hand was shaking when I went to shake her hand, and I had to repeat my name like three times before she could understand what I was saying because I was mumbling and speaking too quietly.

It seemed like she was in a rush to get where she was going, so after less than 20 seconds of conversation which did not progress past the boring 'what do you study? where are you from' small talk, I only had one move and that was number closing. I asked her hesitantly that perhaps we could grab a drink some other time, and got her number.

I thought to myself that there was no way she would respond because my approach was so weak.

But lo and behold, we ended up going on a lovely bubble tea date yesterday.

Lessons learned: approach anxiety never goes away. Just act despite how you feel. Throw youself into the interaction imperfectly. If a girl is into you, she'll cut you some slack. Sometimes the situation is just not conducive to the 'perfect' approach. You might only have 15 seconds and if you think you need to run some 10 minute scripted routine to have success, then you're blowing off all these spontaneous opportunities that might very well lead somewhere.

Keep putting yourselves out there and be true to yourselves and your desires. Don't censor yourself.