I am pounding on my keyboard just writing about this because I have never been so irritated by something in my entire life. I did not work four long years studying and maintaining good grades to pick the school of my choice only for you to immediately degrade the quality of education by your first comment being “Oh, that’s like the number one party school, right?”

Really….really? How about “Oh, really? They have one of the top journalism programs in the United States” or “Wow, that campus is beautiful” or “Did you know they have so many ways for you to get involved at OU?” I can think of 1,242,324 other things you could’ve responded with. Unfortunately I cannot place all the blame on the people. The worst offenders, believe it or not, attend Ohio University.

Now, I'm not saying the parties here at OU don’t get a little wild, but what do you expect? A small town mixed with a bunch of kids who have no one to answer to or any type of authority over them is going to produce some foolish behavior. But I have some news for you: THIS HAPPENS EVERYWHERE AT EVERY COLLEGE. Every. Single. One. So why is it that every time I even breathe the words "Ohio University," the first thing people want to say is “party school?"

Funny story, not actually funny: once while talking to my friend's mom, she said, “My son wants to go to OU, but I don't think I’ll send him there because of all the partying..." I’m sorry, what? What... WHAT? You realize that every single school in the nation, whether it be college, high school or kindergarten, has kids that will go out and party. Just because a percent of the kids do it doesn't mean your son has to participate. Maybe not kindergarten, but you get my point.

That is my rant on how I feel about the typical response I receive when I talk about going to OU. It’s only been two weeks, and I already have fallen in love with my classes, the people and Athens, Ohio, and I am so excited to find my passion here. So when people just automatically assume that I am just out here doing nothing but partying, it really bothers me. I hope this will make you think next time you make a comment toward someone's school because to them it may be a lot more than just “a party school.”