Should Partying Define My College Experience?
The short answer is no; it doesn’t have to be.
During my second month in Germany, there was a semester opening party on campus. I’d never really been to parties during my undergraduate, but this seemed like the refreshing change to see what it was all about, and I decided to go.
Hated it.
I’ve been to other parties ever since. But I try not to. Most of my acquaintances got initially confused when I told them I don’t really like going to parties. I like other things. Initially I also felt bad about it. Why was I acting like a 40-year old? But over the past two years I’ve realized it’s perfectly okay to enjoy the things YOU like — not others’ ideas of having fun. And I’ve realized that’s okay.
Social media paints the college experiences as packed clubs, wild nights, and weekends you don’t remember. Partying is also seen as a rite of passage. And to be fair, it can be a great bonding experiences, a way to make friends, de-stress and feel part of a crowd.
If partying fits into your vision of fun, that’s perfectly alright — go wild. Otherwise, if you sometimes like spending time alone, going on hiking adventures on the weekend, reading, or something else — that’s awesome too.