This piece was written in response to "From The Girl Who Skipped The Party Stage."
Honestly, good for you.
It’s great that you spend your time binge-watching Netflix shows that you love, delving into books, and belting Taylor Swift lyrics late at night with your girlfriends. But, just so you know, from one of the girls who is currently living through the party stage, we do that stuff, too.
Just because we enjoy a night out with our friends, drinking a little too much, and maybe having a few memories that are forgotten, does not mean we are bad people. And I refuse to sit by and let you paint that picture of me and most other 21-year-old college students.
I enjoy reading books. I enjoy writing books. I enjoy singing too loud and playing my ukulele and sleeping on the beach and eating five slices of pizza in one sitting. I deeply enjoyed cuddling with my girlfriend of five years before we broke up, and I definitely preferred it to a one-night-stand.
But I also enjoy letting loose a bit. I enjoy sometimes losing myself in a vodka cranberry, or five. I enjoy dancing with a bunch of people I’ve never met, and being complimented on the dress I decided to wear because it accentuates my curves. I enjoy having a cute boy walk up to me and tell me I look very pretty tonight, even if he has no idea who I am on the inside.
I also enjoy a morning cup of tea. I enjoy playing mini golf, and shopping with my friends and walking around New York City aimlessly.
But I also enjoy walking around that same city, drunk, at 3 a.m., laughing my head off with some of my closest friends. I enjoy making memories where I’m drunkenly confident enough to do things I’ve always wanted to. I look back on most of my non-sober memories and find myself smiling and laughing with joy. Sure, there are others that are definitely cringe-worthy. But does that not happen with sober memories? Do you not have memories that you cringe at? Mistakes you have made? I highly doubt you could honestly answer no to those questions.
So do not judge me on the fact that sometimes I need a night where I have the freedom to forget about my worries for a little while. Do not judge me for being too loud, or stumbling home. Do not judge me for anything. You don’t know me, and I don’t know you. I would never judge somebody for choosing not to go to a party, or not to drink. So why would you judge me?
The decisions I make are honestly none of your business, just like your decisions are none of mine. So please, do me a favor, and leave us all alone.
And for all of you fellow party girls out there, don’t let anyone make you think you’re a bad person. You’re not. You’re completely normal. These are the years where you’re allowed to be a little wild, where you’re allowed to drunkenly make-out with someone you’ve never seen before, and not be judged for it. Don’t let anyone treat you with disrespect. Hold your head high.
