Nah, it's not anyone's place to tell you the "right" way. Because there is no single right way. I once knew a woman that didn't date her entire life, into her 40s, yet found someone and married them.
I also knew someone that dated everyone they could find before getting married.
Neither do I recommend because it was a lot of drama. And the first isn't intended for everyone. But if you choose either that doesn't make you "wrong".
Personally I'm a fan of the friends first approach as well, though, personally, going Years without any expression of interest will likely leave you watching guy after guy go off with others, if they don't ask you. It's not wrong but it's worth reconsidering.
Some guys don't care for a woman speaking up, some aren't phased by it.
But I suspect at this point it's not ideal to decide now. How you feel now may change as you grow and understand more. I'm sure some of this will be a thread of questions eventually.