I’ve read articles showing both sides of college. Some people skip the partying entirely, while others party constantly. I’m here to say that I was the girl right in the middle. No, I did not go to parties and drink underage. Why not? Because I was too afraid of getting caught. When I turned 21, I decided to enjoy that privilege and went out to clubs and bars. Did I drink too much and seem like a typical college partier? Yes. Do I do it every day? Absolutely not. I have responsibilities just like every other college student, and I have to learn to balance my time between work and play. I may not be the typical college partier, but I am also not the person to sit alone doing my schoolwork while everyone else is out having fun. I am the girl who skipped some of the parties.
I remember talking about college while I was still in high school and I kept thinking I would go to parties and experience college the way everyone portrays it in movies like “Neighbors.” However, when I got there, I heard my family in the back of my head expecting me to do my best, so I chose not to party. On my first night at college, I was invited to a party by some freshmen guys. My roommate, two girls that lived down the hall and I were asked if we wanted to go to this party. My roommate was the first to answer "No," and I was glad that she did because I did not want to be the only one to say "No." Actually, only one of the girls chose to go to the party. Everyone knew who she was even on the first day of classes. I was jealous only because I felt like I had met only a handful of people, even though I had the opportunity to meet so many more through these parties.
After saying "No" to that first party, I was not invited to any other parties. Instead, I got to meet friends who played board games, watched movies and ordered Chinese food or pizza on the weekends. I made wonderful friends, and I would not change that for the world. Toward the end of my freshman year, I had the chance to go to an 18-and-over club, where I experienced the party atmosphere for the first time. I liked the music, the dancing and even some of the nice people there. It was nice for a change, but I could not do that all the time.
When I turned 21, I had a wonderful group of friends who were not the partying type. On my birthday, we actually spent the night at a friend’s house and celebrated by playing drinking games and making board games into drinking games. It was so calm, but I needed to experience the true partying phase by going out. My best friend from home took me out to a club, where I quickly learned what a tequila sunrise was. Sure, I dressed up for the occasion and overdid it on the makeup, but that does not make me a bad person. Halfway through the night, I could barely stand up on my own, but I had a great time. I met amazing people who were just there to have a good time with their friends. I danced, I laughed and I enjoyed my time with my friends. There is nothing wrong with having fun, so if you want to party, go out and party.
After that, I have gone out to clubs a few times, I have been to a few bars, and I have enjoyed drinks in restaurants and in my room with friends. I have danced with strangers while being out, and I have met amazing people who compliment you because they’ve had a little too much to drink. Yes, I have experienced the party phase.
On days when I have to be an adult by working or studying for classes, I choose to not drink, not party and work on whatever I need to complete. I recommend studying as much as you can and getting ahead of schedule with homework or projects. You are a student first, so sometimes you have to stay in and not party. Even on the weekends when you have free time, it is OK to miss out on parties or simply not party at all. My only suggestion is to go out and party at least once. Some people I know missed out on partying in college, and they seem to regret it a little bit now. The thing is, you can enjoy both. No one should be putting down someone for how they choose to experience college. Make the most of your college experience because those four-years go by fast, and you will never have another chance to experience life the way you can in college.
