Your first time going out in college could be the most stressful, nerve-wracking, but exciting thing during the entire school year. It’s easy to get caught up on what to wear, where to go, and what types of necessities that will ensure you stay safe and have fun no matter where you end up.

1. Driver's License, student ID, and cash.

This is sort of a no-brainer, but it’s also such a no-brainer that it’s easy to forget (yes, I am guilty of leaving my student ID in my dorm when I needed it most). If you plan on going out to the bars, you will need proper identification just to gain access to the bars alone, but it is also good to have means of identifying yourself. If your campus is anything like mine, after a certain hour, students need to show their HPU passport to a security guard before entering campus, and if you don’t have a passport, that’s an unnecessary hassle that both you and the security guard have to go through. Lastly, credit cards are great and all, but for going out I recommend you hit up the ATM before leaving, because taxis don’t always accept credit cards, and you want to have some way to get home, don’t you?

2. A cross-body bag/purse.

I can’t tell you how many times I thought I could get away with sticking my credit cards, ID, and whatever else in my bra that it would stay there throughout the night. Newsflash: bras do not make for good purses. So save yourself the anxiety of waking up in the morning and not having money or a driver's license and get yourself a little cross-body bag that’s small enough to easily throw over your shoulder but big enough to fit anything important that you’d like to hold onto.

3. A friend, or multiple friends.

Yes, again, this seems like a no-brainer, but it happens, people go out to the bars or to campus parties alone and a lot of times nothing unsettling occurs, but on the off chance something does happen, you always want a friend or someone who knows you a little better. Always have someone who looks out for your best interests, and make sure you do the same for them.

4. Your cell phone.

You would not believe how many people don’t charge their phones, or just leave them at home entirely because they don’t want it be damaged or lost. Please, for your own well-being, bring your cell phone with you wherever you go! I don’t care if it’s glued to your hand or sealed away in that cross-body bag, make sure that if something ever happens to you, a friend, or a complete stranger, that you have a way of contacting someone. Plus, on weekends, your phone typically blows up with people asking/telling you about party locations, and why would you want to miss out on that because you left your phone at home?

5. A pack of gum, makeup products for touch ups, and oil blotting wipes.

It gets hot when you go out at night, because hundreds of people are trying to cram themselves into a frat party or a bar. Your perfect hair will not stay perfect all night, and you will sweat (I know, it’s disgusting, but it’s a fact). Therefore, it’s always a good idea to have some mascara and lipstick on hand to freshen up during a bathroom break, and oil blotting wipes will become your new best friend so you don’t have to walk around all shiny and red. Also, it’s never a bad idea to have a pack of gum, because after a night of drinking, your breath may not be as minty fresh as you’d prefer it to be.

6. A general tip: it’s a marathon, not a race.

Do not feel the need to indulge in dangerous behavior, or do anything that you are not 100 percent comfortable doing. If you do decide to drink, know your limits. Don’t keep pounding shots because your friends are doing it and pressuring you to do the same. If one mixed drink is all you want, then one mixed drink is all you’ll have. Whatever you do, do it at your own pace, because otherwise you’re fighting fire with fire and will end up in a situation you don’t want to be in. Trust me.

This list includes a few of my staples when it comes to going out, but as you go out more and start to learn the ropes, you’ll have your own methods of going out. The most important thing though is to stay safe and have fun! College parties and weekday bar nights are so much fun when you want them to be. Go in with an open mind and a positive attitude, and your night will be a blast!