A few weeks ago, I went on a Hockey Date night my sorority planned. I knew my boyfriend would probably not make it down from where he goes to school, so my Big took me as her date. It was super easy; we barely had to think about it. Of course, we would be each other's dates because our significant others were not here.

However, I saw so many girls struggling to find someone to go with them. They were stressed out because they weren't sure they would be able to find a boy to go with them in time for the ticket sign ups. If they didn't find anyone, they just decided they wouldn't go. To be honest, I feel all that stress was so unnecessary.

I feel like, today, girls have this expectation that they have to bring a potential "boo thing" to events or date nights. I am in no way discouraging that, but I just want to remind girls that going with your friends is just as much fun (if not more) than going with a boy.

I know that is such a cliche thing to say, but I have always felt it is the truth: If you find someone to take, that's amazing, but, it should not be this huge stressor in your life that keeps you from enjoying an event. You shouldn't have to restrict yourself from going to a fun activity because you did not find a date. Find a sister or a friend who is free or doesn't have a date either, and make it a friend date. Those are just as important as "regular" dates. Take that time to get to know a sister you may not get to talk to as much or catch up with a friend you haven't gotten to hang out with in a while.

These date nights (or any other event) should not be a cause of your stress. They should be something that makes you forget about all your obligations for a little while. What better way than to spend a night laughing with your friends? I think friend dates should become more commonplace. Find a time during the week that you can relax and catch up with your friends outside of classes and school, and I have no doubt your mood will improve. Your friendships will grow stronger, and you may meet more friends along the way.

So, don't stress your life away with finding the "perfect" date to take to an event in your life. Ask a friend, and spend the night actually enjoying what you are attending. There will always be another date night/event/activity/formal that you can take a boy. For now, it is perfectly okay to go with a friend. Every sister that took a friend when they couldn't find a date had a blast at the hockey game. Don't miss out on any of the fun things that college offers because you were too worried about finding a date.