Of all the different species found on college grounds, there is one that isn't very talked about but very prevalent: the Hermit.
Hermits find college parties to be too sweaty, too noisy, filled with both too much bad music and unidentified bodily fluids. The wave of heat, humidity and questionable smells released by opening the door to a frat house on a Friday night is enough to send me running.
My idea of a perfect weekend involves one good dinner out with friends, two good gym sessions, a few episodes of “Scandal,” a couple hours of cleaning, a good book and the completion of all my homework.
Don't get me wrong, Hermits still love a good night out, but it's something that they need to plan and mentally prepare for way in advance. Something I think we college students all know but pretend to forget is that heavy drinking is a two-day affair: you spend one night drinking and the day after being useless while trying to recover. When faced with the decision of going out or staying in, my mind comes up with a long list of things that I need to get done the next day; picturing myself trying to do them while tired and hungover has me widening my eyes in horror and vehemently shaking my head.
Sometimes I take a look at myself and think that I'm a disappointment as a college sophomore. Where has my stamina gone? Where is my youthful recklessness and why has it been replaced with annoyingly level-headed responsibility? Why is my fridge full of coconut water and vegetables instead of beer and mixers like it used to be?
Sometimes when I'm at home in my fluffy slippers rearranging my books and blasting Joss Stone, I wonder if maybe I should, I don't know, make more friends or just make more of an effort to be a social creature. I worry that I might be missing out on things, and this worry is what drove me to sign up for rush this spring.
I didn't go through with it, because a few hours before I was supposed to meet my Rho Gammas, I had an epiphany. I am happy. For the first time in a long time, I am happy with the way I am and how I'm living my life. I may not have as many friends as the average 19-year-old, but the ones that I have are the best. I also choose to have faith in fate and chance; if there are more people out there that should be in my life, I'll cross paths with them eventually.
So here's to all the Hermits out there! Don't worry, you're not alone.