Sorry in advance for how long this is but I'm getting quite worried about finding a recommendation letter. I'm about to start sending several LOR requests and I (hopefully) will be able to get two (one from my employer and another from my former PI), but I need an academic reference as well. I'm hoping to ask one of my professors for a recommendation letter but I'm not sure how to go about it since she doesn't know me well – assuming she even remembers me.
I'm pretty shy and introverted so I usually stayed more towards the back of the classroom, and I never went to this prof's office hours before or contributed in class (I know, I shot myself in the foot here T_T). I also graduated a year ago so I haven't seen her in over a year. I did take three of her classes tho (two of those classes were on the smaller side too), I got good grades in them all, and I attended all her lectures. While I have never been to her office hours, I have asked her questions after class before regarding questions I had for assignments so its not like I've never interacted with her either. A bit silly to mention, but I am fairly noticeable since I have red hair too so there's a chance she might remember me. I know for sure she knew my name at one point but the question is whether she remembers it after over a year.
When I reach out to her, I know I should mention what courses I took with her, what grades I got, and why I want her specifically to be a recommendation, but I've also heard that profs will often reject your request if they don't know you well. Any advice on how to go about this? I know she oversees several students' research projects and capstones and I have no where near that level of familiarity with her.
I really need an academic reference and her courses are quite related to my interests so her letter would be invaluable. She has a good sense of humor so I considered maybe sliding in a subtle joke or mentioning something about myself like my hair so she might recognize me but I'm thinking those things might be too risky and unprofessional. Does anyone have any advice? This is driving me crazy lol