Underage drinking on college campuses has become more normal than the sun setting in some parts of America and I am just not OK with that. As a college freshman who started last fall, I was immediately aware of the alcohol and partiers who lived on campus. That first weekend I had to go see my Grandpa at the Home, may he Rest In Peace, but the second weekend of school a couple of my newly found friends and I decided to go to a party off campus.

Worse decision of my life.... The house it was in was dirtier than a sewage tank and everyone around me was just SOOOOO drunk. I went there planning on drinking because you know, "it's college", but thankfully I made the decision not to because honestly I was paranoid that the cops would come, which they did, and that I did not know any of these other people beside the ones who accompanied me.

Now I am in my second semester and have not gone to a party since, because honestly, at least at Mary Washington, they're stupid. So stupid. I know of people who still go these parties and I'm always just like WHHHYYYYYYYY. From what I've heard is that they always run out of beer, the cops come, the houses are disgusting and there are highly impaired students all around you. Why would you want to go through all that trouble just to feel terrible the morning after?

I choose not to drink because number 1, it is ILLEGAL to do so since I am only 19 and I plan on working for the government someday. All my friends already call me Mr. President, so I do not want one night to screw up my life.

I choose not to drink because I do not need a drink to make me feel better. I deal with my emotions and problems in an efficient way, not by pouring them down a funnel or shot-gunning them in my bathroom.

I choose not to drink because, as an elected member of the Judicial Review Board of UMW, it would reflect poorly on my character and today, character and attitude are everything. Who cares if you have a degree, it all depends on how you act.

I choose not to drink because I would rather spend a night inside a friend's dorm room playing Scrabble drinking orange juice mixed with sparkling cider, rather than be at an over crowded, loud party in which everyone is NOT OK.

I choose not to drink because I want to keep all my brain cells thank you very much.

I choose not to drink because it is unprofessional at my age and this is the time in which you figure out who you are and want to be, and the outside world has no time for slackers.

I choose not to drink because it is NOT pretty. You can think about how hot and sexy you look in your dress and your heels, but why does all that sex-appeal really matter?

I choose not drink because I do not want my grades to suffer.

I choose not drink because I'm at school to learn and become more intelligent about things, not to just have fun and toss things like that aside.

Lastly, I choose not to drink because I would be dishonoring my Grandpa, who told me that the cost of my education is covered. If it weren't for him I would probably have to go to my community college and then an in-state school. Now those things aren't bad, but I am in love with UMW due to its rich history, and both my parents and my sister went there. I would not be honoring him by drinking on his dime.

Yes, once I turn 21 I'll drink and buy alcohol LEGALLY, but for now, I really just do not need it. I learned from my mistakes, and I have moved on. All I need are my friends, my family and God. It's that simple. I don't need those fake friends who only talk to me when they're drunk or need help getting back to their place since they're so intoxicated. I just don't need that. All I need is my happiness to have longevity and alcohol does not have either of those.