CONGRATULATIONS
You made it! You survived middle school and four years of high school. You made sure to keep your grades above a 3.0, took college prep classes and you have filled out so many applications for scholarships you lost count. You visited as many campuses as you could, talked to so many counselors, you don't know what you want to be when you grow up. But now you are finally ready. All your hard work has paid off. Your life is about to change. Welcome to college! You can not wait to move away from home into a small dorm room, and live with someone in most cases you haven’t ever met. No parents to tell you what to do, when to sleep or even to clean your room. You meet some new friends, you hang out and then it happens, you get invited to your first college party. You're not sure what it will be like, since you have never hung out with people who don't have curfews and some that are even old enough to purchase their own alcohol. What will it be like? What can you expect? Here are a few survival techniques.
1. College parties are much different
In high school, parties would start about 8 or 9 PM and be over around midnight, because of curfews. A few of your friends would “borrow” as much alcohol as they could from their parents, tell everyone to “be at Becky's house at 9”, crank up the music and hangout until it was time to go home. If you're looking for a real party though, a college party is it. Assuming you make it through the next four years, it will be an experience you will remember and talk about for many years to come.
2. Find the right friends.
Make friends with all the people in your dorm, sorority, fraternity, cheer squad or soccer team. Going to parties with your bros is great. You always have someone watching your back. Having too big of a group though could make more harm than good. Break up in small groups and mingle. When you are in the drunken stupor, your friend will have your back. Connections in college are important to finding the right parties to attend. Send texts, see what parties are out there for the weekend. The upperclassmen have been doing this a while, so make friends with them; they will show you the ropes.
3. Drugs
We all know they are out there at most parties. STAY CLEAR! Don't leave your drinks unattended. You don't want someone slipping something into your drink without your knowledge, and regretting it later. Make sure you always know where your friends are. You don't have to stay tied to them all night, but they are your safeguard. You can get separated from your friend easily at a large party. Just make sure you are aware of your surroundings, know your friends are still there and what your exit plan will be.
4. Have a sober driver.
Make sure you always have DD if you're driving to a party. Don't make the stupid mistake of driving yourself back to your dorms drunk, or let someone else drunk drive you. You and your friends can alternate being the DD at parties. You will not regret this. You don't want to end your first night out in a jail cell.
5. Don't be “that girl” or the "tough guy."
We all know her. She is the one that gets drunk way too early. She either throws up all night, takes off her clothes, or ends up being passed out on the bathroom floor for everyone to walk over. Pace yourself. Don't be the “tough guy”. Drinking does not make you invincible. You will not become Superman after a few drinks. Don't get into fights at parties, keep your cool. This is not high school, someone can and will kick your ass if you piss them off or rub them the wrong way. There are so many more parties to go to. Don't let this be the first impression all your new friends see.
6. Pictures!
Everyone one has a cell phone. We all enjoy taking pictures of ourselves doing funny of things, making a duck face with the person you just meet. This is great to take pictures of your friends having a great time at parties. Make sure and not embarrass your friends, or other people you just meet. Don't post pictures to the web without thinking first. Make sure people wouldn't mind having those photos or videos out there. Believe me if you post an inappropriate picture of yourself or someone else….everyone will know! Try and keep your head.
7. The hangover!
Here it is. The day after that first party. Ugh...did you have an unforgettable night? Or do you not remember because of the throbbing headache? It is from drinking way too much the night before. Drink more. No, not alcohol. Water, and lots of it. You are dehydrated and you need to re-hydrate. Re-hydration is key to getting over a hangover. Drink water at room temperature, eat some toast, take some aspirin, take some vitamin C, drink juices, and most important, get some rest. The next weekend will be here before you know it. You will have more parties to go to and people to meet.
8. Enjoy yourself!
That is the most important thing to remember. Yeah, maybe that first party was a bust. You didn't have as much fun as you thought you would have. There will be more parties, make the best of it. As long as you had fun, in one way or another, it was a success. College is all about experiencing new things, and making new friends. Don't be the guy or girl who stays in their dorm every weekend. Get out, enjoy college. This is the time of your life and it only comes around once. So maybe drinking is not your thing. Fine, you don't have to drink, but go out, break out of your safe bubble and experience your first college party.
