Courage, armpit sweat and a bottle of opportunity

In my youth, before I was married or even engaged, perhaps in the few years after high school when the occasion would have permitted, like at new school year events at the post secondary education places I studied, or, social events at the school. Or simply in school hangout areas or hallways. If I could go back and if I had the courage, I approach a solo girl, a pair of girls or a group of 3-5 girls, introduce myself with my first name and ask if I can ask them three questions with an option for a fourth. Using only three questions hopefully reduces any reluctance to participate. Being at the school ought to also let the girl(s) feel safe. I would look at the girl(s) and based on what I see ask three of any of the questions below, and that the optional fourth question is also from the list. If they pick the optional fourth question, once it is done ask one at a time if they want additional questions. Between the second and third question I would mention that of course at anytime, the girl(s) can ask me any question about anything. If they ask me why I am doing this, it is to practice and improve my social skills and comfort.

I would not ask the girl(s) their names at the outset, if we managed to get to a question 5, that is when I would ask for their first name(s). In the groups of 2-5 I would make a concerted effort to pay attention to each of the girls equally and to concentrate strongly the remembering of their names. If it went really well and we reached 10 questions, I would have my eleventh question ask if any of the girls would like to exchange contact information with me.

• Which of you is the sportiest?
• Who of you are early birds and what would be the ideal time to awaken for each of you?
• If I paid for a high end salon pedicure or manicure for you, which would you pick, and why?
• Were or are any of considered a tomboy?
• How punctual are you and how important is it to you to be punctual?
• Preference question, the number 17 or the colour amber?
• Have you travelled at any time to any place south of the equator? If so, where, when?
• Which of you is nerdiest (and when she is picked) what makes you nerdy?
• Mental health is not spoken of often at our age; are you comfortable talking about the state of your own mental health with your friends?
• Preference question, swim in a pool, or in any natural body of water like a lake, river or ocean?
• Do any of you have a boyfriend?
• Do you or would you pay for event tickets for the purposes of attending and supporting women's professional sports?
• Do you read regularly, if so what are you currently reading or have read most recently?
• How long does it take for you to get from home to school and how do you go about this commute?
• What is your favourite flavour of ice cream and in what format?
• Is being fit important to you, and if so, what do you do to maintain or improve your fitness?
• If the group of you were to win an all expenses paid trip somewhere with shared accommodation, where would you all agree to go for a week long trip?
• Would your dream job have high flexibility to work fewer or more hours as fits with your day to day life, or a much more restrictive and stressful but much higher paying job?
• Can you sing? Do you sing? Would you sing? Ask whomever seems keenest about this to sing something - if I am asked offer a beautiful song that tears me up or a fun song that we could maybe sing together: What a wonderful life or Bohemian Rhapsody

Of course I think about this when I am 18758 days old, when it would have been super helpful for me to have considered this idea during those years in my life. I still don't know if I would have had the courage, but perhaps simply having the idea would have helped. I do recall that I was equally good at coming up with questions back then. I do not know if any of these questions would have been welcome by girls my age back then, or girls that age now, but for the most part they appear to be harmless questions.