For most schools, spring break is just a few, short weeks away. While this might be an opportunity to catch up on much-needed sleep or spend time with family, many people will go away with friends. However, this is typically a wasted opportunity. Most spring break trips are typically portrayed with college friends drinking and partying on an island and I think there can be so much more to a trip with friends to make it much more memorable. Now, don't get me wrong, there's obviously something to be said for partying it up somewhere tropical, but it doesn't have to be all about partying.

Just this summer, myself and three of my closest friends that I made at college took a trip to the Jersey Shore. While we didn't spend our days and nights going wild, this was easily one of the best trips I have ever taken. We spent our days getting knocked around by the waves, having dance parties on the beach and enjoying, or in other cases, getting burnt to a crisp by, the Vitamin D from the sun. We made jokes and memories about things that we will remember for years and years to come.

Our nights consisted of dancing like idiots on the boardwalk, cuddling together and watching a movie or even meditating on the beach (which is the most relaxing experience and I would recommend to everyone regardless of why you're at the beach). We weren't out drinking or partying and yet, the experiences we had were infinitely better than if we had been. We were all genuinely becoming closer and strengthening our bonds as friends in a way that was more real than any other scenario would have allowed.

Even to this day, we look back on the pictures and videos from that trip and reminisce. We constantly find ourselves remembering little tidbits and wishing we could go back to those four short days at the shore. This trip made me realize how lucky I was to find three people who I could be so open with and I am beyond grateful to have such amazing people in my life. I miss having that time together and I think I can speak for all of us when I say that we wouldn't have wanted to have the experience with anyone else.

While I'm not saying you have to take the exact same trip my friends and I took, I implore everyone to take a sober trip with their closest friends. It is amazing to spend time with your best friends in a setting that allows for everyone to be their genuine selves. Put away the partying and the craziness of being in a college setting and make real memories with your friends. I guarantee that it will make you all closer and will solidify your friendship.