College is said to be the greatest four years of your life. It's a time to learn how to take care of yourself, without your parents telling you what you can or cannot do; and most importantly, it is a time to learn how to become the person you hope to be.

Before I begin, I want it to be clear that I never "skipped" the party stage, but I simply escaped the lifestyle I once had. Looking back on the college student I once was, I cannot even count how many times I skipped class because I was too hungover to even get out of bed. Coming into college is a huge transition, as it is for many incoming freshmen, by learning how to manage your time between your education and social life. At the time of my raging party stage, all I could think about was that I couldn't miss out on "the party of the year," even though the majority of people probably wouldn't even remember it anyways.

I have to admit, I had a great time going to the bar with friends then after going to Taco Bell around 2 a.m. But then I came to realize that there are better ways to make these four years "the best years of my life." Going from the social butterfly, to a library bookworm, was a huge transition to a hardworking and determined lifestyle.

Escaping the party stage, by simply putting the things I need to do to in order to reach my goals, in front of being intoxicated, has not only helped me become a better person but has also made me feel ten times better about myself. I'm not saying that it's a bad thing to go out and have a drink with your friends, but from my experience, I learned that drinking on the regular and wasting nights hammered instead of focusing on what's actually important, plays a huge role in the life you choose to have. Turning my priorities around, I now have a clear image of what I want in life and what all I have to do in order to reach my goals.

Focusing on my needs and goals for my future has made my college experience "the best years of my life." When I look back on who I was in college, I want to be able to remember it. I want to know that I changed from the party girl I once was, to get to where I am today. I want to be able to share stories of my experiences in college with my children and teach them that hard work pays off.

Take it from me, and know that college isn't about the "crazy shit" that happened last night, or how drunk you got, but it is about discovering more about yourself and building your career path. Escaping the party scene has improved my self-esteem and has shown what I'm made of. Call me boring, but this has been the best decision I've made yet.