When people talk about drinking or partying or the "college" lifestyle with me, their jaws tend to drop when I tell them I don't take part in any of that. And then they try to convince me that "everyone does it" in college, and I will too. But I don't have any desire to take part in the "college" lifestyle. So what? Does that make me any less of a person or any less of a college student? The answer is no.

I've never liked alcohol, and I've never liked parties. I've watched underage drinking destroy the lives of a lot of people I grew up with before their lives even really began. Friends have gone to the hospital with alcohol poisoning and gotten themselves into trouble with the police — just to drink and go to parties. I didn't get it, and I still don't get it.

For a while, I tried to convince myself that in order to have friends I needed to partake in drinking and parties. I told myself that to be happy and not be a "loser" I had to involve myself in things I really didn't believe in. How stupid is that? I literally thought that if I gave up my morals then I'd have a lot of friends. But what's more important? Your morals or fake friends?

I understand that I'm the minority of college students. I understand that because I don't drink I'm looked at a little differently by a lot of people. But I would never try and tell someone how to live their life by telling them, "Oh, you shouldn't drink."

Everyone is totally entitled to live their life how they choose to live it. For that reason, I don't care at all if people my age drink. But why do people care that I don't? Why am I looked at so differently because I don't like parties or alcohol? For the record, I'm not missing out on the "college experience" by not drinking or partying. I'm taking my college experience into my own hands and doing with it what I believe is right for me. And what's right for me isn't right for everyone and that's totally OK. But I'll never understand why the idea of a "college experience" filled with alcohol and drugs is forced upon students. Especially when that's not for everyone.

So, to the high school and college students out there who don't drink, I feel you. It's awkward and it's annoying when you tell people you don't drink and you're looked at like you just said: "I hate puppies." Understand that everyone's path is different. What's right for person A may not be what's right for person B. And that's OK. Do what you believe is right, and you will be happy. Who cares what anyone else thinks?