Spending a spring break at Panama City Beach is something I said I would never do. But come that Saturday school got out, I found myself cramming an excessive amount of swimsuits in a suitcase and jamming to throwback tunes with my friends as we headed to the land of the unknown. After 6 days in a house with 50 people, many shards of glass in my feet and multiple Advil later. This is what I learned while spending my spring break on the battle grounds we call Panama City Beach:
I know you say it'll never be you, but honestly who hasn't been that person. Everyone is fighting a hard battle, regardless of what it is, so be kind. Whether it's helping someone find their friends, or their clothes, we all need a little help sometimes.
2. You can get just as many beads for respecting yourself.
I can't thank my Dad enough for the self-respect he taught me and in PCB this trait was evident. I think I earned just as many beads by telling boys, “absolutely not" than the girls who decided to do otherwise. Not saying it' s bad thing (do your thing girl) but earning a 10-cent strand of Mardi Gras beads isn't worth it.
3. Take advantage of nap time.
“I'm not even tired" came out of my mouth WAY to much, but when 2 a.m. came and I could barely keep my eyes open and everyone else was wide-awake. If you plan on getting any sleep at all, you have to nap when everyone else is napping. But while were on the subject of napping…
4. Sleeping on the beach in Chaos is never a good idea.
I don't care how tired you are. That's fine if you want to sleep outside on the beach because, “Duh, you're in PCB and napping on the beach in front of everyone is totally acceptable." Take your dang shoes off. Those Chacos tan lines are NEVER going to go away. Yes, it was smart of you to wear shoes. But for the love of God, there is nothing uglier than Chaos tan lines to prove that you were the one passed out on the beach.
5. Bring tweezers because getting glass in your feet in inevitable.
It wasn't 24 hours into the trip when I found myself digging glass out of my feet. I get it, you're on the beach and wearing shoes is totally not cool, but just expect a replay of Joe Jonas at the 2007 AMA's where he found himself literally walking (or falling) on broken glass.
6. Don't bring anything valuable.
Panama City has proven itself over and over to be a black hole for everything valuable. Save yourself now, if the item has any importance to you, just don't bring it. You will lose it.
7. No matter what bed you crawl in.. it will have sand in it.
Nothing is better than coming home from the beach, taking a long, hot shower and climbing in to a disgusting bed infested with sand and Lord knows what else. It's spring break. You're on the beach. Sand will be everywhere and sadly there is no getting rid of it. Go ahead and try every bed in the house, they will be just as covered in sand if not worse.
8. You won't make it out to the night clubs as much as you think you will.
Go ahead and pack a million outfits to go out in. I promise you won't use half of them. If you're lucky you're going to make it to the local bar and grill to chow down on some greasy food before going back to the house for a 4-hour nap. By the time you wake up it's like 11 and everyone has either already left to go out or is so embarrassed of their sunburn that they would rather “chill at the house" for the night.
9. Put sunscreen on before you start your day.
There is no greater advice that my mom has ever given me than to put sunscreen on before I start the day. Because once you start your festivities, that's the last thing you think about. Then the next thing you know you're waking up with 3rd degree burns that will never heal correctly. So just do it, put the sunscreen on now.
10. Bring a camera - you're gunna wanna remember this.
Take a million pictures and videos. The best part of the whole trip is going back through them for days to come because it's always funnier the second time you see it.
