We’ve all taken a turn being the designated driver for our group of friends and if you haven’t then you might be the crappy (read alcoholic) friend. It’s not always fun to take this role on, but it is always appreciated, whether your friends express these feelings or not.
Being the DD is never a glamorous role. Your car fills with the smell of alcohol, your friends are extra loud and obnoxious, and if you’re really unfortunate you have someone spill the evenings drinks consumed back out all over your car. If you pull up to the party and already have your windows down in case your friends can’t hold their liquor as well as they think they can, odds are you’ve probably had someone throw up in your car before.
Here’s to the friends who tirelessly volunteer to be the designated driver:
First, the world needs more people like you. Your selflessness really does make a difference. Whether it’s preventing a stupid friend from driving drunk or simply saving a smart one from the cost of an uber, you are awesome. You are the type of friend that will last a lifetime. You probably are mature for your age and have put the value of partying below the value of your friendships. Whether you just don’t like to drink, are staying in for the night to study, or have some other reason for not being able to go out, volunteering to drive your friends or maybe even people you’re not that close to, is an amazing thing. There are way too many accidents in college towns, which are caused by alcohol and can easily be avoided. There’s a simple solution to this issue and a way to save lives, designated drivers. You are that solution. If your friends are too hammered and stupid to thank you, just know that your community thanks you. The parents of the people you’re driving around thank you. Your university thanks you; because that’s one less tragedy the student body has to suffer from. It’s often inconvenient to be this designated driver because you’re busy studying, you’re tired, or you just got suddenly woken up by your friends phone call from the loud bar, but still you don’t hesitate to get in your car and go get them. You are the definition of a genuine friend. Although you can feel under appreciated or like your sometimes missing out on all the fun, just know that you get the reward of keeping your friends safe. It’s not always an easy job and it’s often messy and frustrating, but keep up the good work.
