Drop the date and go it alone. You don't need a man or, maybe, don't know one.

Imagine this -- you’re at chapter and your social chair perks up, smiles, and says those two words you’ve been excited to hear all semester: "Date partay!"  All the girls erupt in hyena-like screams and hug each other, asking what the theme is.  The general atmosphere can be summed up in, “OMG, dancing and boys and glitter -- OMG!"

Now, I’ll tell you about me in that situation. While everyone else celebrates as if it is the second coming of our Lord and Savior, I usually think, “I do not know one male on this campus and I am much too socially awkward to deal with this situation. Can I take my dad?"

Some girls don’t have 700 guys begging to go to date parties with them. I am among that elite group of girls, and I have no shame in it. Instead of shunning yourself like a leper because you’re embarrassed, or forcing yourself to take a date you’ve never met, who could possibly be the creepiest of all creepers, here are five reasons why going stag to a date party is not the end of the world.     

1. You don’t have to deal with a sloppy Joe date. We’ve all seen them -- the dude who pregamed the pregame and is now speaking Mandarin and attempting to hit on every girl in the vicinity. His poor date is just hoping he can make it on and off the bus without upchucking everywhere. Essentially, you won’t have to be a babysitter.     

2. You can make it a girl’s night. I do understand it’s called a date party, but why can’t your sisters be your dates? I guarantee you won’t be the only member of your chapter who doesn’t have a date.   

3. You get to avoid awkward small talk, which is truly my least favorite thing in the world. Set-up dates can be awesome, no doubt, but they can also be an absolute train wreck. If you’re anything like me, small-talk conversations make you want to punch yourself in the face. If so, going alone might benefit your night and your sanity.      

4. You don’t have to act cool. If you’re not trying to impress your date, the pressure is off. I’ve gone to date parties with my friends, and we just dance around like lunatics and, generally, act a fool. Plus, you can take your costume in a super tacky direction instead of worrying about cutesie matching with your date.     

5. You can troll on the couples. Nothing is funnier than getting in between dancing pairs who are leaving no room for Jesus. Trust me. I’m an expert at trolling.     

If you have a boyfriend or a good dude friend, or if you’re simply a socially capable young person, go ahead and grab a date to your next social function. If not, going alone is not a death sentence, I promise.      

See ya' at the next date party. I’ll be the weirdo dancing in the corner, alone.