Modern day culture seems to have an obsession with recreational drugs. The music scene is one of drug cultures biggest clients. From massive EDM festivals to popular country music shows, all genres have a crowd that thinks the only way to feel the music, is to feel the drug of choice, too. What many people fail to realize is that you don't need to take drugs to enjoy a show. You can have just as much fun by getting high on life.

I have gone to many shows, ranging from rock to electric dance music. Every show I have ever been to, I always get asked the same general question: "are you high?" I have had many friends whose has been yes, but what watching them made me realize is how much I did not need drugs to feel the same high. At a show, everyone wants to experience the most out of it, but since when did that full experience incorporate taking drugs?

Being a person who identifies as a raver, I have gotten a lot of negative backlash. No one seems to believe me when I say that I have been attending shows sober since I was sixteen years old. Music festivals, especially EDM ones, have become associated with being a place to explore taking drugs. For me, EDM shows have been a place to soak up and explore life. I don't need drugs to help me do this because my passion for music is what gets me high. My surroundings are what allow me to feel free and seek out new life experiences, such as wearing a costume without the fear of judgement, or going to a show and seeing all types of people coming together to celebrate their love for the music and each other. I meet strangers, make them my friends and swap numbers to meet up again next show, continuously making my rave family grow. It's the intense feeling I get when I hear the music and feel the beautiful energy of the crowd as I dance in the middle of the pit, singing together with a new friend.

So many people forget that the music is not about the drugs, it is about the passion. I know that there are people out there that take drugs, but still have a deep admiration for the culture, but there are also numerous people out there that think they can use a show atmosphere to take drugs without having a love for the community, as a whole. Being a raver, and sticking true to PLUR, I will continue to help these people find their way and look out for them. By giving them an example of someone who can rave just as hard, and have a deep love of the music without the use of drugs, maybe one day they will walk away from the pills and powders and come dance with me on a new more exciting drug called life.