From ancient Greek legends of Heracles conquering seemingly insurmountable obstacles to tales of the local frat star, stories have pervaded human culture since the beginning. Everyone loves to hear a story. Think about it: every show you see on TV, novel you read, and conversation on Sunday morning is a story that entrances and captivates our minds. 

Lately, I’ve seen some of my friends pass up countless opportunities for story-making, either preferring solitude or being too irrationally afraid of change, and it perturbs me. I will be the first to admit that sometimes it’s nice to hang out solo, but you can’t let life pass you by!  

Why make good stories? The answer is obvious; they are what makes life worth living. Your stories define you more than your gender, age, height, family background, etc. combined. Here are five tips to create a great story and define yourself with exciting life experiences. 

1. Go out. When was the last time you were sitting around the campfire with your closest friends, sharing your glorious exploits, and someone chimes in the flow with “Dude, last night I was lying in bed just staring at the ceiling. By the way, Mike, my bed was so comfortable because of those new 600-thread count sheets you got for me at Bed Bath and Beyond. Anyway, then I fell asleep.” Obviously that’s a slight exaggeration, but the point stands; there is nothing more disappointing than not having an interesting story to share.

2. Take risks. In the makings of every great story, risks are almost inevitable. Fortune always favors the bold. Take Christopher Columbus, for example. In a wild gamble, the founder of the American Continents embarked on his dangerous, potentially fatal mission across the Atlantic. It paid off, as his name is forever recorded in the history books. The United States owes a debt to this bold Portuguese, and what a fantastic story. 

3. Step out of your comfort zone. Shannon L. Alder says, “Life always begins with one step outside of your comfort zone.” Doing things differently and going to a new place outside of the norm creates a setting where new life experiences are unavoidable. Opportunities to stretch yourself to new places are too rare to ignore. There is an old Chinese proverb that says, “Pearls don’t lie on the seashore. If you want one, you must dive for it.” A pearl is too rare to not reach for. When you can see one, take the plunge. 

4. Stay conscious. If you wake up in the morning and don’t remember what you did, how can you share your experience? Granted, others will most likely spread the stories, but why miss out on the enjoyable memories of actually being there and experiencing the events, firsthand. It is akin to attending the Super Bowl and spending the whole time at the snack bar. Later, everyone will be recounting their story of where they were when the Hail Mary pass won the game.

5. Be safe. This is my disclaimer tip. A good tale can easily go south if you’re too reckless. Say you start your Friday night off by heading to a friend’s house party; soon the place is packed and there’s standing room only. All of your friends are lost in the crowd, and just when you've given up all hope, a stranger approaches. You've never seen this person before, yet they offer you a drink and a ride home, later. Is this the beginning of a fun and interesting night, or the opening of a late-night, two star horror movie on Netflix? My bet is on the latter.     

There are too many potential experiences and settings for us college students, in the prime of our lives, to miss out on our stories. The “good ol’ days” that the 40 and up club always talk about? We’re living it! So make your stories incredible, take every chance you get and make your mark experiencing all that life has to offer.