Your request should be polite and respectful, but there’s no need to be extremely formal. Your enthusiasm for the job should be clear. Open your email by addressing your boss as you normally would (e.g., “Hi, Mary”). Your boss should be able to understand what you are asking for right off the bat. Give your email a subject line that clearly addresses what the message is about. Summarize your request in the opening paragraph.  For example, give your email a subject line like “Requesting Salary Adjustment.” Your opening paragraph could be something like: “I have been working hard over the past two years to make valuable contributions to the company. In light of everything I have accomplished, I would like to request a raise to $35,200 per year. This is in line with current average salaries for editorial assistants working in the academic publishing industry in the Chicago area.” To justify a raise, you will have to emphasize anything you've done that goes above and beyond your job description. Using very specific numbers and giving precise details about the things you've done will strengthen your case. Your request should be as positive as possible. Don’t complain about how hard you are working for so little pay, or about how long it has been since your last raise. Also avoid implying or outright stating that you will leave if you don’t get what you want. Instead, focus on your accomplishments. Demonstrate your enthusiasm for the work, and your desire to continue contributing to the company in a positive way. End with a paragraph reiterating why you feel you deserve the raise. Re-state your request for your target salary. You could end with something like, “Given my positive contributions to the company over the past two years, I believe that $35,200 per year would be appropriate for someone with my qualifications and experience. I look forward to discussing this with you, and welcome any feedback you may have about how I can improve my performance even further.” Thank your boss for their time and consideration. Close your email in a friendly, respectful manner (e.g., “All the best,” “Best wishes,” or “Regards”). If your boss says no to your request, accept it gracefully and don’t give up. A negative response now does not necessarily mean you won’t be able to get a raise in the future.  Send a follow up email – or have a conversation in person – thanking them again for their time. Politely ask for their feedback about what you might do to get a “yes” in the future.

Summary: Keep the tone friendly and professional. Be clear and direct. Make your message detail-oriented. Avoid complaints or ultimatums. Summarize and re-state your request. Sign off respectfully. Be prepared for a “no”.


While you don’t need to purchase fancy stationary or take calligraphy lessons, you should use your best handwriting so that your crush can easily read your message. If you scratched out a bunch of lines in your note, rewrite it. Your crush might be able to decipher what you crossed out, which you definitely don’t want. Avoid adding lots of hearts or kisses to the note. Save those for notes you write when you’re already dating someone! It’s super important that you sign the note with your name! After all, you want your crush to know that YOU like them, not that they have a secret admirer. If there are a few kids in your class with the same name, add your last name or at least your last initial to avoid any confusion.  For example, you could write, “I hope to hear back from you soon. From, Adam G.” Another example is, “See you in math class. Sarah O’Reilly.” You can fold your note in a fancy configuration, or put it in a sealed envelope. Be sure to put your crush’s name on the outside of the note so there’s no question as to who it’s for. Also, include their last initial or name if there’s more than one person at your school with the same name. For example, write, “To Marissa E.” You could hand your crush the note, or leave it in their locker. You could also have a friend give the note to your crush, but make sure they say it’s from you to avoid any confusion. It’s a good idea to wait until lunchtime or after school to deliver the note so that neither you nor your crush get in trouble during class.  You may want to wait until your crush is alone to deliver the note so they can read it privately. Alternatively, you could email the note to your crush. But, you won’t know if or when your crush reads the note, and they may not take a digital message as seriously as a handwritten note. You can add a line in the note asking your crush to write back, or ask them to let you know their response when you deliver the letter in person. For example, you could say, “I’ll be outside if you want to talk after you read this.” If you haven’t heard from your crush a few days after giving them the note, you can follow up with them. Simply ask, “Hey, did you read my note?” when you see them in person. Hopefully, your crush likes you too and your note is the beginning of a wonderful relationship. This may not always be the case, though, so you should be prepared for rejection. Realize that your crush has made their decision, and don’t try to change it. It’s okay for you to be sad or feel disappointed. Give yourself time to accept the situation, then let go of the idea of dating your crush, and move on.
Summary: Make it neat. Sign the note. Address the note. Deliver it to your crush. Ask your crush to reply. Be prepared for their reaction.