We've all heard it before, "take full advantage of partying before you enter the real world," "you're not getting any younger," or "party while you're still in your prime." It's not that I completely disagree with these statements, it's just that I believe that there are other and more appealing options. Sure, I like to go out with my friends every once in a while; but, the reason why I'm in college is for my future, and that's my main priority right now.

Many have had that moment of realization (or panic) in college when it hits you out of nowhere that your GPA is not up to an acceptable standard. You can't recall one lesson you've taken away from your classes and you are not the least bit prepared for the real world. The day that I experienced this breakthrough (or should I say mid-life crisis?) is the day I completely turned my life around. For those who can go out every night and still maintain their schoolwork, props to you, but I was never one of those people. It took an immense amount of self-evaluating and thinking about the future for me to finally question if all the fun was worth it.

One semester later, and I am in the best state, mentally and physically that I have been in so far in college. Not only have I noticed positive changes in myself, but my new lifestyle also shines through in my grades, my accomplishments, and my knowledge towards my major. When you initially separate yourself from the party scene, people will assume two things: you're either extremely nerdy or extremely boring. You've seemingly fallen off the face of the Earth. You will find yourself constantly feeling the need to explain and defend your life choices to others in order to justify your decision not to go out. Sometimes, you will feel guilty after constantly turning down your friends' drinking invitations.

People will think that you're lame and you will get compared to a grandma (or grandpa) far too often until you finally give in and start identifying yourself as a "college elder". You will gradually notice your priorities changing more and more, and with that, you will gain maturity. Eventually, the feeling of FOMO won't nag at you on Friday nights at home because your mindset is on the bigger picture.

For those who think that you can't have fun without going out, I'm here to diminish the stereotype. While going out and dancing in a sweaty and crowded basement, bar or apartment that reeks of beer and vomit may be fun, it's also fun engaging in activities that you will actually remember the next day. Looking back at your memories doesn't always have to feel like you're piecing together a puzzle. There's even a bonus: you won't wake up feeling like you've been hit in the head with a hammer.

Ever since I shifted my focus onto my schoolwork, the little things have mattered more to me than ever. If I've been working on homework for hours and finally get a break, rewarding myself with an episode of Netflix or a trip to Target is fun and enjoyable for me. Once you work exceptionally hard towards something and you start to see it all paying off, the smallest rewards become major accomplishments. This is because you know that in the end, it will all be worth it. Most of all, you realize that in order to be successful and live the life you always dreamed of, you will have to make sacrifices, that's just part of life. Better to start sooner than later, right?