It's been said by too many people that when you go to college you have to get the "college experience." To be more specific that means hooking up, getting wasted on weekdays, going to football games and frat parties in as little clothes as possible, all to get the "college experience."
News flash- this is not what college is about. It's not about doing things you're uncomfortable with because your friends told you to or making stupid decisions because that's what is expected of you. Hooking up and pretending you don't care about anything is not the way to spend your college days. Drinking excessively and making out with the guy across the bar because your girlfriends dared you to only gets you farther away from the experience you are really searching for.
Who are you when you're alone? Do the decisions you've made upset you when all your friends are gone? Do you feel lost in those moments? Honestly, I think we've all been there, but how many of us actually sit and let us feel those emotions. Instead of busying ourselves with friends and going out, why don't we actually allow ourselves to reflect on our lives and decide where we want to go from here?
When we feel this restlessness inside of us, that's God speaking to us, telling us we're better than this. We deserve more than that. You're worth more than that. Believe it. Behaving in such a way is not worth your peace.
Our culture has strongly promoted self-care recently. Doing yoga, taking "me" time, eating healthy all for your health and wellness, for that inner peace and happiness we all desire. Focusing so much on self-care during the week and then hooking up on the weekends is contradictory.
The "college experience" that everyone yearns for is a facade. Sure people look like they're having the time of their lives, but does anyone see her tears of flipping over a pregnancy test or his self-loathing that he can't escape. The misery is covered up with more booze and Snapchat stories making it look like it's the greatest time of your life.
It's not. Know that it's not. What you are searching for in those moments in love and happiness; you're searching for God. You want friends and an exciting college adventure. Believe me when I say you can have that and so much more when you follow your moral compass. You'll remember a lot more of the fun times than the people who can't remember the night before. You'll have many more friendships that can withstand the test of time versus the ones who only like the "fun, drunk" you. You'll end up with fewer regrets and more amazing experiences than any one of those people.
So, know that the "college experience" only takes you farther from your true self. Rise above that and find the others who want more than hookups and booze. I promise you there are more people in that boat than you think.