The other night, my boyfriend and I had a date night, and we decided to go for a drive in Browns Point after our movie. As we were in the car, passing lavish houses and beautiful trees, I passed by Hidden Beach, my old sanctuary as a newly-minted 18-year-old who just graduated high school.

Time slowed down for a second, and it suddenly all came back to me:

I remember sitting on this beach, tucked from the rest of the city, and I was watching the sunrise. I looked back at all of my friends sleeping around the burnt embers of the bonfire from the previous night, with bottles of alcohol surrounding their sleeping bags. My boyfriend at the time was sleeping alone, with a vacant space for me to slide into the sleeping bag with him.

I remember looking down at my chipped black fingernail polish, and the thousands of homemade wristbands with rings on every finger. I was wearing white shorts splattered with paint from a rave I snuck into, and dirty white vans from the hike down to the beach. As I stared into the distance, I could see miles and miles of water, facing the other side of Tacoma.

At that time, my 18-year-old self, after a night of crazy partying with people I loved, promised I'd never forget that exact moment, and to promise myself that as I grew older, I would remember sitting on this beach, at what was the best day of my life.

Looking back at my party stage, I don't regret a single moment of it.

Now, let me start by saying that I have no problem with or pass judgment upon people who do choose to skip the party stage, and there should be the same courtesy for those who chose to be wild.

So yes, I went through the party girl stage, and so what?

I met amazing people who became life-long friends, had experiences that matured me, and created memories that I'll be able to carry with me forever.

To be completely honest, I had the best memories while drunk and doing reckless things. Not because I'm an "alcoholic or a rager," but because I lived.

Partying showed me how to live life to the fullest, not to simply exist.

Yeah, I'm glad I partied for my later teenage years. I'm so happy I made connections with the people I did, that I did the things that I did, and that let out all of my teenage angst because it helped me mature into the woman I am today.

Because I got all of that partying out of my system, I now have the eye on the prize that is success. I have no desire to go get wasted on "Thirsty Thursday", or find my purpose in life with having meaningless flings. Because I have lived, I know there is more to life than the party, and I am seeking that rather than participating in beer chugging contests.

Although you won't be catching me at the party anymore, I recommend for all of the freshly graduated students to live life.

Travel, take a road trip with your friends, leave your hometown, even just for a little while.

Drink that rum and coke, get drunk, and laugh until you cry.

Go to the bonfire with your friends, and reminisce about life.

Pull all-nighters just to talk to your best friends all night about life, because life is too short to just simply exist.

At the end of the day, we only have one life, and no one wants to wake up and wonder what living really means. Again, if you have no desire to attend the party, then make sure you live your life, because this life is for the taking.