It's that time of the year again for fall classes to begin. When fall semester starts, so do the parties. Whether it be your freshman year or senior year, you are more than likely to go to a college party or two during your time at ONU. Today's article shares 10 ways to Party-Smarty!
TIP 1: Remember Why You Came to ONU
For most of you its Pharmacy or Engineering that brought you to Ada; for others like myself it's for all the other amazing opportunities ONU has to offer. What I mean by "remember why you came to ONU" is, remember you are here to get a degree! We all know a big part of going to college is the "freedom" that comes from leaving the nest, but your number one priority while you are at ONU is your academics!
Tip 2: Prioritize
It might be tempting to say yes to Karaoke night at Lil' Mexico on a Wednesday, but if you have a huge Physics exam the next day, it's probably not the best idea. If you planned with some friends about going out over the weekend, make sure all your homework is done. Trust me, no one likes writing three blog posts Sunday afternoon with a hangover.
Tip 3: Get with a Group
No one likes to party alone! Don't be afraid to ask a couple girls from your hall to get ready together. Besides, Beyoncé is way better with a group of or more, so turn the beat up, wing your eyeliner, and prepare to dance the night away!
Tip 4: Stay Hydrated
Don't learn the hard way! If you planning on partaking in the drinking aspect of partying, I cannot stress enough how important it is to drink water. When you drink an excessive amount of alcohol, your body becomes dehydrated. The reason being, alcohol decreases the body's anti-diuretic hormone that causes water to be resorbed in the body. So unless you would like to spend the next afternoon with a headache, drink lots of water. The rule is 8 oz per drink.
Tip 5: Get Plenty of Sleep
You might feel a tad bit guilty for partying Friday night and sleeping in Saturday, but your body will thank you later. If you try to stay out until 2:00 a.m. and rush to Dickie the next morning bright and early to review for your accounting exam Monday, chances are you are not going to get any productive studying done. More doctors suggest eight hours of rest each night.
Tip 5: Know Your Limits
I'm sure you've seen movies where people are drinking until they are over a trash can. Don't be that girl. If you are going to drink, know what your body's limits are. Don't be afraid to ask your parents for a few drinks. I'd rather be embarrassed asking my parents for help then being that girl passed out in the middle of the Tundra.
Tip 6: Don't Be Afraid to Say No!
When you are at a party, you will constantly be asked to take shots. It's your right to decide if you are going to engage in drinking and it's also your right to decide if you would like to abstain from drinking. Never feel obligated to say yes to anything that you are not comfortable doing. At the end of the night, it's your body, and although your intestine might control what comes out, you have control over what goes in!
Tip 7: Ibuprofen Is Your Friend
I know we talked about drinking lots of water and getting plenty of sleep, but sometimes that doesn't do the job. Especially if it's your first time out your body isn't use to playing beer pong for two hours straight, meaning that it's not uncommon to wake up with a slight headache the next day. I suggest setting out a bottle of water and Ibuprofen the night before. Usually I leave a note signed that says, "you'll thank yourself in the morning."
Tip 8: Find a Designated Driver
Drinking and driving is one of the most avoidable causes of death. It's not that hard to ask friends who chose to stay in to finish the newest season of OITNB (Orange is the New Black) to drop you off and pick you up. Nothing is worth risking your life for, especially not at a house party. So if you know you aren't going to be able to find your way back to Affinity, just ask a friend. Eleven times out of 10 they will say yes!
Tip 9: Turn Off Your Data
If you haven't heard before than you will today: no employer will take you seriously if your profile picture is you with two liters of alcohol duct taped to your hands. I suggest going to your settings and turning your data off. This way, there are no chances of these pictures leaking out to the internet. Remember everything on social media is out there forever.
Tip 10: Party Smarty
You don't need alcohol to have a good time. ONU in particular offers a variety of ways to occupy your free time. Get involved, join a club, visit Padrones, its ranch is to die for (figuratively). In conclusion, I would like to say that yes, it is okay to go out, but keep in mind why you are at college for one reason; get a degree! At the end of the day Bud Light is not going to pay your school debt!
