Got a relationship question you want to ask, or a situation you want thoughts and advice on? Email me at somedude.harvardfml@gmail.com, and watch this space for my answer! T.B. asks,

I’m a straight senior guy. In your post-college dating post a couple weeks ago, you suggested post-college activities such as dance classes, community theater, etc. Now, nothing of that sort really grabs me and I totally can’t stomach the thought of doing them just to gain more exposure to girls. I will be too career-focused to actively pursue new girls after I graduate. There is a super hot girl I’m interested in in one of my classes. Any strategies for generating fast results before this semester ends?

Worrying about “fast results” is a trap that will probably undercut you – don’t rush. If you’re worried about timing, just avoid spinning your wheels. I wrote a post a while back about first dates; I think all of my suggestions in that would apply to you well and keep you from unnecessarily stalling. And here are some other relevant posts: dating a senior and everyone has time. If what you want is a relationship that will last beyond graduation, work on building a strong emotional bond: if she feels very strongly about you, she’ll want to either follow you after graduation or encourage you to follow her. With a bit of luck, it’s quite possible to build a relationship to that point in only a matter of months.

While luck plays a role in creating a strong relationship in the first place, keeping it going will always take effort, and no amount of luck will make up for it. If you’re going to be exclusively laser-focused on your career, or won’t compromise your preferred activities (e.g., going to an art gallery if your girlfriend wants you to take her), no amount of good planning at the onset is going to help you in the long term, particularly to hold the attention of the caliber of woman you’re looking for. It requires effort – not just the effort of gestures but the effort of changing yourself for someone else. Read the rest of this entry »

Amy Poehler gave a hilarious and heartfelt speech at the Class Day Ceremonies on Wednesday. Congratulations seniors, we at The Voice will miss you very much. Go forth and prosper.

That’s right you read that correctly. The senior class scored big and the one and only hilarious Amy Poehler will be their speaker on Class Day.

Previous speakers have included Christiane Amanpour and Matt Lauer.

And it’s no other than the 42nd President of the United States, Bill Clinton.

vs.

(Images courtesy of Google and CNN)

The Yale Daily News article just went live.

Who did Harvard get? CNN’s chief international correspondent and anchor, Christiane Amanpour. I think the fact that I had to check the Harvard Gazette article twice to get her name right says something. Yes, I’m ignorant, but I also came from a communist country in Asia and now live in a dorm with no cable! Granted, Clinton attended Yale Law School and has come back to speak twice in the past ten years, once in 2001 and again in 2008, so it’s not that hard for them to get him. However, it is still pretty undeniable that his name creates way more buzz than Amanpour’s. And if Facebook is any indication, way more excitement in the student body. (It’s BILL FRIGGIN’ CLINTON! OMG!)

Make of that what you will. As for me, I’m booking my bus ticket to New Haven. I might get killed and stuffed in a wall (especially considering the fact that I’m of the same height, stature and ethnic origin as Annie Le), but the risk is worth it.

P/S: Maybe Harvard should go ahead and get Lady Gaga next year. Noice will be very happy. Will you?

Christiane Amanpour, 52, who has long worked as CNN’s chief international correspondent and interviewed some of the most prominent world leaders of our time, has been chosen to address the Class of 2010 on Class Day–information the Senior Class Committee released today.