As I sit here typing this, most of the people who live on my floor in college are at a pre-Valentine’s Day bash at an upperclassmen’s apartment in Brooklyn. This party is what millennial and college dreams are made of. Loud music, sweaty company, but most of all, free drinks. It is an accepted fact in our worldly society that college students, or young people in general, love a good party, especially if alcohol is involved. In fact, drinking is a rite of passage for most of us, even if it entails being underage. The majority of the world let people drink at the age of 18, while Americans must wait until they are 21 to drink their first cosmopolitan. These are pretty much just accepted guidelines that people may or may not follow. In reality, many parents have been letting their kids drink since the middle of high school, or at least have expectations of it. I've had many conversations since I was 15 where my peers go, “Of course I drink! Even if it’s not at a party, my parents let me drink a glass of wine or two when we’re at home or out to dinner.” I get it –– it’s fun to get a little tipsy when you’re out and about. The dance moves become more spontaneous, the music sounds louder, and you get to share in the experience of being wasted with your friends. I’m an 18-year-old college student, in New York City nonetheless, where the opportunities for fun and rum are endless.

But honestly, I just don’t see the fun in it. So I don’t drink.

There are several reasons for this.

First of all, the smell. That distinctly sharp and rusty smell. As soon as I near a bottle of Budweiser, my stomach screams a little.

The other reason, and perhaps the most important reason, is that I have a family history, something that is not all that uncommon in the world but is a topic that needs to be more widely addressed. I have no shame in being aware of a past that if I were to take even a tiny sip of liquor, could lead to a lifetime of detrimental consequences. That's not me being dramatic — those are just the hard truths. I can't count how many times I've watched a loved one get beat up by another family member all because they downed a whole bottle of Smirnoff. This is alcoholism. Alcoholism is a disease, and alcohol is a depressant. If you're sad or angry or want to distract yourself from the world, write a book. Sing a song. Memorize all the state capitals. Just don't alter your emotions and turn your fury into someone else's bruises.

Lastly, I don't need alcohol to have fun. Is party culture prominent among kids my age? Yeah. But I take much more joy out of a sober dance party than one might at a party where everyone is hammered to the point of throwing up. I like actually remembering what I did and the conversations I had among people I met. What's the point of going out to have fun when the next day you're just hungover? Trust me, I have seen the headaches, and it erases any evidence of fun that might have happened the night before. I can't tell you how many times I've asked people from high school if they remembered prom night and I get a reply of "I don't know. I don't really remember because I was completely wasted. But I heard it was cool." Maybe that's the whole point of being a naive teenager, but I like holding onto those crystal clear memories of homecoming football games and staying out past curfew or dancing with the boy you liked at your senior prom. Those moments become memories. And memories become the stories you talk about right now. Isn't it better knowing that you remembered life when you were young instead of throwing it all away for a keg of beer?

Sadly, I’m still judged when I refuse a Red Solo cup when the opportunity arises. You’d think people my age would be more accepting of my choice, but I’ve had several instances where it was just another excuse to isolate me from the group and deem me ‘uncool’. This article is not about telling you not to drink. Just remember the notes you took during your D.A.R.E. session in middle school! If you want to drink, that's fine. Just make good choices! Because that is exactly what drinking is — a choice. One of many choices made by a person with a history beyond exterior appearances, and we all demand love and respect. And I don't know about you, but watching "Clueless" on Netflix with your friends after a week of finals sounds much more appealing than cleaning up puke.