When you think of college, what comes to mind? For me: staying up late, going out, having absolute crazy fun, and so much more. These are nights when you only get two to three hours of sleep, the days you roll out of bed and go to class, and the unforgettable memories that will always be memorable with the friends you call family.That all happens when your a 'typical' college student. However, I wouldn't call myself one of those. Yes, I have gone out, barely get enough sleep for a night, and had nights I would never forget. However, by the end of my freshman year, I noticed I didn't have to be going out to have a great night. I could stay exactly where I was with the people I love. I have always had a different mindset. I didn't want to be going out and being irresponsible in my actions. At the time, I just thought it was the right thing to do since everyone else was doing the exact same thing. Let me tell you, I was wrong.
When I first started my freshman year of college, all I heard from my friends, family and coworkers were to make your college memorable. Nowadays, there is so much pressure to go out and make your college experience the most memorable it can be for you. Therefore, I thought in order to make my college experience memorable I had to go out and prove to others I was having the time of my life. However, I wasn't. This is difficult for other students, and me, who have a different view of the best four years of our lives. I wanted to go explore, study abroad, intern, experience new things, take classes that I never thought I would enjoy, make a name for myself and much more. I am not bashing anyone who likes to go out and have a good time in whatever way that makes them happy, it is completely OK if that is what you enjoy. However, I do rather prefer staying in with some close friends and having a great time laughing, watching movies, exploring, and board games.
Every time I would go out, my friends would always ask me immediately after arriving what was wrong because they said I looked upset. It was because I had no interest in being there and thought it was pointless. I would rather spend my weekends hanging with some close friends or having a girls night in. It is okay to go out and have fun, but it just isn't my type of thing to be irresponsible in actions. That's OK! I promise. Whatever makes you happy to have fun, you can do that. Just because you're out doesn't necessarily mean you are fulfilling your college experience and/or making yourself happy. It is whatever you think is having a memorable college experience.
Therefore, DO NOT feel obligated to go out, be irresponsible, and be like everyone else. BE YOU. I will do things my way, not with the peer pressure surrounding what a typical college student does or acts. College is all about making friends, wonderful experiences and making you into a well round individual. You will never forget or regret your college experience if you are doing everything you want to make it. At the end of the day, I am 100 percent OK with not being your traditional college student, and you should be too.
