College is filled with many temptations: for one, you're finally on your own. That means there's no influence from your parents about what to eat, when to eat it, how much to eat, what to what on Netflix, when to watch it, when to go to class, etc. Along with the numerous temptation to do basically whatever you want in college, there comes the temptation to go to parties, especially fraternity parties. Now, coming from a 19-year-old, many people would say, "well this shouldn't be an issue. You're not even 21," and that's completely true; however, that does not stop many of my peers from the frequent consumption of alcohol come the weekend.
I've never been a drinker, to be completely honest with you. I went to London where, at the time, it was legal for me to consume alcohol with my family around, and I still did not feel comfortable with spending my days in that beautiful city inebriated, therefore, I did not drink. I am by no means trying to brag or make people think I'm a "goody-two-shoes," because that's not the message I'm trying to convey here. I'm merely trying to say that I am now a sophomore in college, meaning I have faced with my fair share of sorority and fraternity socials, fraternity parties, and other weekend rendezvous from caving, to hiking, to bonfires; however, one thing that seems to set me apart from my peers is that I don't see a need to consume alcohol in order to have a good time.
Like I said, not trying to brag or be a "goody-two shoes." Merely, I'm trying to express that while I have been to a fair amount of socials or parties with my friends, I don't find it necessary to drink. It's simply not essential to consume alcohol in order to have a good time in college. While it might make it easier to make poor decisions, it's not a requirement that you drink to the point of blacking out in order to dance with your friends and celebrate the end of a stressful school week. Many of my peers have told me "man, this party would be fun if I were drunk" or "I'm so glad I won't remember this by tomorrow," and frankly I just don't see the appeal in that. Plus, on a separate note, it's very difficult to find a DD lately, especially when your college-town doesn't have Uber; therefore, it's just makes drinking more trouble than it's worth (another reason to be sober).
I'm not trying to be a second mom to anybody or tell them what to do. I'm not saying "don't drink ever" or "don't have a good time ever," because I'm sure 95% of people will tell you that alcohol does make time with friends more enjoyable. I just don't see it. A perfectly good time can be had by all simply by remaining sober. There's nothing that requires a person to get totally black-out, can't walk straight, puke-on-my-friends drunk. Maybe that's just me, but maybe that's perfectly okay.