College; a time where we’re the freest we’ve ever been, a time where we get to make more choices for ourselves than we have our entire life, and a time where partying becomes the go-to activity of Friday/Saturday nights.

Yeah, a good party now and then isn’t something I can say I hate, but in no way am I someone who is defined by partying, and who feels the need to go out every week.

If you’re anything like me, you love your friends dearly, but also value alone time, and getting to spend time relaxing after a tough day or long week. For me, the idea of putting makeup on and getting dressed up on a Friday night can seem more like a chore than a fun activity, and sometimes, I’d much rather curl up and watch Netflix than being surrounded by noise and crowds the whole night.

A huge stigma surrounding college life is that you aren’t "cool" unless you attend every event, show your face at every party, and be involved with as much social activity as possible. And while I have nothing against people who love partying, I just want to remind people that staying in is okay. It’s okay to want time for yourself even if it seems like every person on campus is out partying. It’s okay to need a break from the people and work you deal with day in and day out.

I value the people who are able to stand up for themselves and tell people when they’d rather do something at home than spend the night running around, not remembering what happened the next day. College is a time to find ourselves, and if that means not fitting in with the crowd, then we’re doing something right. I applaud those who are willing to be themselves in a pond of people who all swim together, and who aren’t afraid to face the looks when they back out of a thrilling night on the town. I’ve had great fun at parties, but no, partying is not the only thing I came to college to do.