If Jim Halpert could escape the “Friend Zone” with Pam Beesly (now Halpert), you can too.

The “Friend Zone”: a term used by many, explaining the situation in which one finds him or herself when he or she develops romantic feelings toward someone who wishes to remain friends. Guys can be in the “Friend Zone.” Girls can be in the “Friend Zone.” In relation to me, my car is actually in the “Friend Zone.” (I adore her, but I am not interested in that sort of relationship.) I am not so sure, however, that one is “put” into the “Friend Zone” entirely to mess with one’s head.

When I first heard the term, I thought it was hilarious, and I saw how it could occur. I have often “liked” my best guy friends, and the feelings have not always been mutual. I never thought, however, that these guys had done this terrible thing to me and put me in the friend zone. It sounds like an awful place with fire breathing dragons, lava and no wifi (and you have seemed to run out of data for the month). I feel people fail to recognize they have a choice in who they want to date, just as you choose who your friends are and your frozen yogurt flavor. If you are mango madness, you are not going to mix well with coffee; however, you can totally hang out and be civil.

We assume that just being friends with someone to whom you are attracted is the worst thing in the world; however, this could actually steer you in the right direction. Think back to your first crushes. Now unless you are one of the extreme few still dating his or her fifth grade love, you most likely realize where you went wrong in that situation. If the one person you think is your soul mate does not like you, maybe that relationship is just not meant to be. Whether you believe everything happens for a reason or not, I think one thing we can agree on is that you are not meant to “like” everyone that loves you back.

Luckily, while I have “liked” my friends, I have never been put into the ”Friend Zone,” but that is not the doing of my way with words. I notice the difference between being led on and someone acting like they want to date me and someone just wanting to hang out and discuss our mutual love for Lana Del Rey. I understand that not everyone returns feelings, and that I cannot force them upon someone. If that were possible, life would end up like a fairy tale where some guy followed me around everywhere I went and I am sure I am not the only one who is far too independent for that. And I think it is better to be in the “Friend Zone” than watching from your lunch table, sobbing over his or her tweets in your head.