For ages, college has been redefined over and over again and these definitions always involve partying, drinking, and having a lot of sex. We, as college students, love definitions. We study definitions for tests and look up definitions when we don’t understand concepts. However, if you’ve ever looked in a dictionary, you will notice that there are several definitions for one word— but, we almost always use the first one. The definition of college that involves partying is the first definition that people focus on, but there are so many more!
Whenever someone is different from the majority, he or she feels in the wrong. When did the word, "different," become synonymous with "incorrect," "weird," or even "crazy?" Just because you don’t get happiness from going out and partying doesn’t mean that you aren’t happy. Just because you don’t want to drink on Friday night doesn’t mean that you should force yourself to partake in these activities.
Psychologists like to put people into two different groups: introverts and extroverts. Introverts get their happiness, or solace, from being alone. This is where they obtain their energy. Extroverts get their energy from being around people. Yes, these are totally opposite personality types, but that doesn’t make one of them more socially acceptable than the other.
People are going to say things like, “Everyone parties in college,” and, “You only live once; might as well have a good time.” Except, if partying isn’t your “good time,” then this doesn't apply to you. Your good time may be reading a book or watching a movie and that’s okay. As long as you are happy, then why does it matter? Yeah, you only live once, but should we live our lives trying to make ourselves into people that we’re not? Should we do things that other people think are fun, even if we don’t think so?
Now, we come to the whole mindset of, “Well, if I don’t go out, will I miss something?” Let me ask you this— have you ever gone to party when you didn’t really want to and ended up having a magical time or did you find yourself ready to leave as soon as you got there? Everyone else is partying and you’re thinking about being in your PJ’s and watching "Grey's Anatomy." You aren’t missing out on anything. When you see people’s Snapchats and it looks like they’re having good times, just remember that they only post what they want you to see. They want people to think that they are having a fabulous time, even if they’re not. So, next time that you feel bad about wanting to stay in, just remember that you are doing what makes you happy, and that’s all that matters.
