I'm not going to lie, I'm definitely not into the party scene. I've been out to bars three times during the first half of my college career and parties maybe twice. They seem to be the pinnacle of the college experience that everyone must experience at least once. After all, the thrill of losing all inhibitions with friends after a week of classes seems exciting.
Bars themselves are… an interesting experience.
They're sweaty, crowded and filled will boys trying to completely invade your personal space which seems almost non-existent at bars. I'm underage, so about every time I've gone to a bar with my friends, we become passive observers of some comical drunk fiascos that are fun to talk about the next morning while my friends above age are getting drunk as well. Almost every time I walk out of the bar, I end up with a drunk guy following me out, my drunk friends on my hip and me barely being able to hear because of the music. The experience is almost circus-like with the bright lights, the loud music and an entire building filled with drunk people.
Something about the experience is exhilarating yet exhausting at the same time.
Then flash to run of the mill college parties, which are basically a watered down version of the bar. Still overcrowded, loud and filled with drunk people, just less of those three things.
Let's talk about why I'm over the experience. Don't get me wrong, I don't exactly regret going to bars and parties when I did. But I genuinely think we can do better. For one, the anxiety of having people I don't know in my personal space pretty much ruins the experience all in itself. I have no urge to interact with drunken strangers, especially when I don't know their true motives. Plus, now that I'm in a relationship, having guys I don't know try to dance with me and touch me is just wrong.
Going out with friends and going to parties and bars can be fun every once and a while, but I sure as hell don't understand how people have the energy to do it consistently. To be honest, there is nothing I would rather do on a Friday night than relax and binge watch some Netflix with a friend or two and have meaningful discussions about our lives and our futures. The bar and party scene is a little too high energy, and to be honest, I would rather have my mind and body rest so I can get back to work and studying.
Also, you and your friends really should be able to have fun together without alcohol. If you and your friends are truly close, you won't need to lose all inhibitions to be around them.
All in all, the party scene is a fun experience to try during college. But let's not fantasize about it, because the college scene has the potential to be so much more meaningful than drunken weekends and loud, sweaty bars.
